The Richter Scale of Culture was a method of describing, quantifying and comparing the development and achievement of numerous disparate cultures encountered on different worlds.
- The Richter Scale of Culture is similar to the technological/sociopolitical index.
Usage[]
Developed by Dr. Alonzo Richter in the 2200s, it took into account information across a broad spectrum of scientific disciplines. A Richter Scale descriptor could include up to three preface letters, 21 explanatory qualification digits, five exception letters, and twelve philosophical-comparison pointers. For most non-experts, the preface letter provided a generalized description of a cultures level, ranging from "AA" (no tool use) to "Q" (no technology beyond current Federation theoretical science). Beyond "Q" was "XX", describing a culture which appeared beyond understanding.
Alonzo Richter continued to refine his scale throughout the early and mid 23rd century, to the point of such complexity that only about 1000 specialist were able to formulate a rating for any given culture. The majority of these individuals were employed by Starfleet's First Contact Office.
In 2269, events on Talin presented the possibility that Richter might have to invent a new level in his scale to account for the ability to be aware of subspace communication without being able to receive or transmit. (TOS novel: Prime Directive)
In 2274, the planet Helva was noted for having advanced two levels on the Richter scale in three years, leap-frogging out of a stage of feudalism. Evaluations of such changes prompted an investigation by the USS Enterprise. (TOS novel: The Prometheus Design)
Examples[]
A society in the first level Bronze Age would be given a Richter Scale rating of A.345-34019-1 dr.1. (TOS novel: Prime Directive)
The city-dwelling lowlanders of Kyros had a D+ on the scale, though the hill clans of that same planet were more primitive and thus might not qualify for the same rating. (TOS novel: Spock, Messiah!)
Federation experts rated the Organians at level "D minus" on the Richter Scale, presumably corresponding to an agrarian culture with hand or animal powered machinery, as this race initially presented themselves. (TOS episode: "Errand of Mercy")
Civilizations that are pre-subspace and use electromagnetic radiation are close to rating C-451-5018-3 on Richter's scale of culture. (DS9 - Millennium novel: The Fall of Terok Nor)
Scale levels[]
As the scale is constantly tweaked, comparative ratings from differing sources conflict. Parentheses denote source year.
- AA : No tool use (2269) [1]
- A- : Nomadic hunters [2]
- A.345-34019-1 dr.1 : Earth circa 3000 - 2000 B.C., first-level Bronze Age (2269) [1]
- B- : Barbarism [2]
- C- : Earth circa 2000 B.C., Egypt's Middle Kingdom (2274) [3]
- D+ : Feudal state [2]
- B : Earth circa 1485 C.E. (2268) [4]
- C- : Earth circa 1560 - 1600, Elizabethan England [2]
- Midrange : Radio technology, fossil fuels, no atomic power (2266) [5]
- E+ : Earth circa 1950 [2]
- F : Earth circa 1975 - 2000 (2269) [1]
- G : Earth circa 2030, rudimentary interplanetary flight (2268) [2] [4]
- C-451-5018-3 : Microwaves used for welding and communications, no directed energy weapons (2374) [6]
- G- : On the verge of interstellar flight (2360s) [7]
- H : Point at which first contact could be made (2269) [1]
- H+ : Advanced technological societies [2]
- Q : No technology beyond current Federation theoretical science (2269) [1]
- XX : Culture beyond Federation understanding (2269) [1]
Cultural ratings[]
- 892-IV/Magna Roma (Magna Roman) : E+ [2]
- Altair IV & Altair VI (Palkeo Est) : H [2]
- Arcturus IV (Arcturian) : C- [2]
- Canopus II : A+ [2]
- Deneb II (Bandi) : G- (2360s) [2] [7]
- Grex (Grexxan): Midrange (2266) [5]
- Kyros (Kyrosian) : D+ for city dwellers (2269) [8]
- Marcus II : F, declined to E- following nuclear wars [2]
- Nador (Nadorian): B- (2267) [9]
- Neural (Neuralese): D- [2]
- Omega IV (Omega IV native) : B- [2]
- Organia (Organian) : D- (2267) [2] [7] [10] [11]
- Regulus II (Regulun) : G+ [2]
- Rigel VII (Kalar) : D+ [2]
- Sigma Draconis III : B [2] [4]
- Sigma Draconis IV : G [2] [4]
- Sigma Iotia II/Iotia (Iotian) : E+ [2]
Alternate scale[]
A "reversed" scale to the above system was sometimes used in the late 2260s. Below are definitions and planetary ratings for this variation of the system. (TOS board game: The Adventure Game)
Scale levels[]
- AAA+ : Comparably more advanced than the Federation
- AA : As advanced as the Federation
- A : Culture has warp travel
- B : Pre-warp civilization with atomic power
- C : Pre-atomic, industrial
- D : Pre-industrial, has invented gunpowder
- E : Iron age culture
- F : Stone age culture
- X : No sapient life on the planet
Cultural ratings[]
- Alpha Centauri IV : AA
- Andoria : AA
- Aviskie : AA
- Babel : A
- Beta Comae III : A
- Churen : A
- Deneva : A
- Earth : AA
- Elba III : B
- Kai-Kahless : AA
- Khereth : B
- Klinzhai : AA
- Koltana : AA
- Koslek : A
- New Paris : B
- Organia : AAA+
- Procyon VI : C
- Tantalus V : B
- Tellar : AA
- Trankel : C
- Val-Spenech : B
- Vandemir : B
- Vulcan : AA
- Willeni : C
Appendices[]
References[]
- TOS episode: "Errand of Mercy"
- TOS episode: "Spock's Brain"
- TOS novel: Spock, Messiah!
- ST reference: Star Trek Maps
- TOS comic: "We Are Dying, Egypt, Dying"
- TOS novel: The Prometheus Design
- TOS comic: "Mortal Gods"
- TOS board game: The Adventure Game
- TOS novel: The Promethean Prophecy
- ST reference: Worlds of the Federation
- TOS novel: Prime Directive
- DS9 - Millennium novel: The Fall of Terok Nor
- TOS - The Janus Gate novel: Future Imperfect
- TOS novel: Gemini
- TOS - Errand of Fury novel: Sacrifices of War
- DSC episode: "Context Is for Kings"
- DSC novel: Fear Itself
- TOS comic: "We Are Dying, Egypt, Dying!"
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 TOS novel: Prime Directive
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 ST reference: Star Trek Maps
- ↑ TOS comic: "We Are Dying, Egypt, Dying"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 TOS episode: "Spock's Brain"
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 TOS - The Janus Gate novel: Future Imperfect
- ↑ DS9 - Millennium novel: The Fall of Terok Nor
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 ST reference: Worlds of the Federation
- ↑ TOS novel: Spock, Messiah!
- ↑ TOS novel: Gemini
- ↑ TOS episode: "Errand of Mercy"
- ↑ TOS - Errand of Fury novel: Sacrifices of War
External link[]
- Richter Scale of Culture article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.