Although confronted with the possible consequences of eugenics, scientists apparently continued their work especially in the field of cognitive research. Mind-control technology became available as soon as the early 21st century, although this technology also was abandoned following the bloody Mind Control Revolts of 2043-47.

In the aftermath of these mind-control conflicts lay the sources for the Third World War. Hostilities between the west and the east had been rising ever sence the Eugenics Wars, and it came to a confrontation in the early 2050s. This conflict between the major powers of North America and Europe versus the Eastern Coalition was fought mainly with nuclear and satellite weapons being fired at major population centres and military targets, resulting in a death toll of 600 million, soon escalating in a nuclear holocaust that engulfed much of the globe, nearly turning human civilization to that of the Dark Ages. The subsequent collapse of the global economy, political systems, and the drastic environmental effects of the war devastated those nations which had escaped direct nuclear attack.

The Mediterranean region and north Africa had been an island of human progress and tranquility during the savagery which had racked much of the rest of the world during the 21st century, partly due to the drastic alterations made to the old sea's character and the region surrounding it - the fabled Mediterranean Sea was now hardly more than a long, slender lake which trailed off into the hazy blue distance in the direction from which it had just come. Human ingenuity had turned the region into a virtual garden, skillfully engineered climate alterations having profoundly improved the climate and character of the entire northern half of Africa. Population growth in the region had been compensated with underground city construction - similar habitation centres were constructed throughout the world in the later half of the century.

In this post-war period, First Contact embarked a new era in human history as Dr. Zefram Cochrane first faster-than-light spaceflight of 2063 had drawn the attention of the neighbouring Vulcan race. As humanity rebuilt its world from the ashes of the devestating nuclear conflict, most forms of poverty and disease were eradicted from the planet within the next fifty years. However, global recovery was uneven, as at least until the early 2080s, some areas of the planet remained in a state of near-anarchy, especially south-east Asia and the Near East, which had born the brunt of the atomic holocaust.

In 2113, the United Nations of Earth was founded in the former French capital of Paris, with the ultimate goal of forming a united planetary government, based upon the principles of the former United Nations organization. Although several nations originally declined membership, all of Earth would find itself united under one single government body by the early-22nd century.

As Earth gradually recovered from the war, humanity came into a massive wave of expansion into the galaxy. The first permanent extra-terrestial colony was established in the Alpha Centauri system in 2078, followed by Tau Ceti in 2086. Serious colonization of Earth's moon Luna had begun by 2103, with the construction of New Berlin and Tycho City.

Eager to explore the stars, scores of starships were launched in an exuberant search for knowledge about the galaxy. As United Earth expanded its reach, it became a highly influential economic power, facilitating trade between most of the worlds of known space. In less than one hundred years, the human race grew from a struggling species on the brink of extinction into the known galaxy's most powerful alliance. Expanding in all directions, continuously increasing their wealth and knowledge of the universe, humanity appeared to have a bright future in store.

By the mid-22nd century, Earth was rapidly growing to become a regional power in the Alpha Quadrant. At the time, Vulcan was one of the dominant races in the quadrant, being the political and military superpower of the region. However, the Vulcans' influence was constantly challenged by the neighbouring Andorian Empire, as a state of cold war between the two remained in place until the 2150s.

In 2151, the Vulcan monitoring station beneath the ancient monastery of P'Jem was discovered by the Andorians, with the aid of the crew of the human starship NX-01 Enterprise. Causing in a impairment of Earth-Vulcan relations, it also resulted in a growing mutual respect between Andoria and Earth. Shortly thereafter, the monastery was destroyed by Andorian orbital bombardment. This caused turmoil and upheaval on Vulcan, including the dismissal of the First Minister.

Subsequent to this crisis, the Vulcan High Command gained more control over civilian affairs. Under the leadership of Administrator V'Las, the High Command persecuted the Syrrannite sect, which claimed that Vulcan no longer followed the true teachings of Surak, whos writings had been lost since The Time of Awakening.

In 2154, V'Las claimed to have proof that the Andorians were developping a superweapon, and planned to invade Andoria in order to pre-empt this threat. The Andorians, however, were warned in advance of the planned invasion by Vulcan Ambassador Soval and the crew of the Enterprise, so being able to prepare for attack. As the battle got underway, Captain Jonathan Archer of Enterprise and Syrrannite-leader T'Pau brought the Kir'Shara containing the original writings of Surak into the High Command's headquarters, justifying the Surrannites' position and enabling Minister Kuvak to challenge V'Las' increasingly illogical behaviour. In short order, the attack on Andoria was cancelled, V'Las deposed, and the High Command disbanded. Kuvak and T'Pau formed a new transitional government which promised to pursue peaceful policies, and also to end its restrictions on Earth's technological development and expansion.

It was not known at this time that V'Las had been working in conjunction with Romulan agents, as part of a plan for reunification of Vulcan and Romulus.

Romulan interference would again be felt later that year, in November 2154, when a Romulan plot to destabilize the region had the opposite effect and created a temporary alliance among the Andorians, Humans, Tellarites and Vulcans. The proceeding Babel trade conference helped bring peace to the strained Andorian-Tellarite relations. Possibly, this failed attempt to drive the four powers apart eventually resulted in the devastating Romulan War.

Sources for this information include "Star Trek: First Contact", TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint", VOY: "In the Flesh", ENT: "Broken Bow", the "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" novelization by Gene Roddenberry, ENT: "The Forge", ENT: "Awakening", ENT: "Kir'Shara", ENT: "Babel One" and ENT: "United".