A proud and versatile race in Azeroth, the Humans once lived peacefully throughout the Eastern Kingdoms of the world of Azeroth, with major settlements in the nations of Azeroth and Lordaeron. This all changed the day the Orcish Horde was led by the Burning Legion through the Dark Portal in the Blasted Lands, into Azeroth. From that day, the humans have been locked in a bloody conflict with the orcs.

[edit] The First War
The First Great War (Warcraft: Orcs & Humans) ended tragically for mankind, with the assassination of King Llane and the razing of Stormwind Keep. At the end of the war, the humans of Azeroth were forced to retreat to the Great Sea and sail to the northern land of Lordaeron.

There, they formed the Alliance, which involved the seven human nations and the elves, dwarves and gnomes. However, they were pursued by the still corrupted and fierce Horde, and thus began the Second War (Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness).

[edit] The Second War
This war raged across the Eastern Kingdoms, from Lordaeron through Khaz Modan and finally back to Azeroth, where, despite betrayal by the human nation of Alterac, the humans were able to close the Dark Portal and kill or capture most of the remaining orcs.

In Warcraft II: Beyond the Dark Portal, a small band of humans led by Turalyon and Khadgar travelled through the portal (which was reopened by the orcs) and shut it down forever from the inside.

In the next fifteen years (between the second and third wars), with the orcs in captivity and no common enemies, the Alliance splintered into disarray, with several of the nations and races breaking off completely. Thus, by the time of the Reign of Chaos (Warcraft III), the humans had descended into a bickering race ill-prepared for the coming conflict.

[edit] The Third War
Problems began to arise in the kingdom. A scourge of undead soon swept across Lordaeron, while the Orcish leader Thrall escaped from an internment camp with a band of Orcs. Swearing revenge against the undead Dreadlord Mal’ganis, Prince Arthas Menethil travelled to the far-northern continent of Northrend, where he was corrupted into an agent of the Scourge. Thus, he returned to Lordaeron, slew his father, King Terenas, and proceeded to destroy Lordaeron and the home of the High elves, Quel’thalas.

At the same time, while mankind was slowly being destroyed, Arthas’ former lover Jaina Proudmoore took a band of humans, elves and dwarves across the sea to Kalimdor, at the request of a mysterious prophet. There, she led the survivors of Lordaeron into a historic alliance with the Orcish Horde and Night Elf Sentinels, and to victory against the Undead Scourge and Burning Legion.

[edit] The Aftermath
In World of Warcraft, mankind has nearly ceased to exist in the kingdom of Lordaeron; but Jaina’s colony on Theramore Isle is home to many of the survivors of Lordaeron, and some minor towns are still intact (though in constant peril). The southern kingdom of Stormwind remained largely untouched during the Third War and has rebuilt its strength. The Kirin Tor of Dalaran, after suffering grievously at the hands of the Burning Legion and the Scourge, have retreated behind the magical shield they erected around the ruined city of Dalaran as they work to rebuild. The zealous, independent fighters of the Scarlet Crusade relentlessly combat the Undead in the Plaguelands from the strongholds of Hearthglen and Tyr’s Hand. Kul Tiras remains loyal to the Alliance, but its strength has waned following the death of Admiral Daelin Proudmoore, Jaina’s father. The people of Stromgarde, again part of the Alliance, have seen their capital lost and currently fight against Ogres and the Syndicate to regain it. And Gilneas has sealed itself off from the rest of the world, closing the gates of the Greymane Wall and refusing entry or exit to anyone and anything.