Editing Cardassian (section)

== Cardassian history ==
Within the ''Star Trek'' [[fictional universe]], the Cardassians were once a "peaceful people with a rich spiritual life".<ref name="GAG">George A. Gonzalez, ''Star Trek and the Politics of Globalism'' (Palgrave Macmillan, 2018)</ref> However, during this period they also suffered from [[Epidemic|disease]] and [[famine]].<ref name="GAG" /> [[Nationalism|Nationalistic]] fervour grew and a [[military dictatorship]] was established, under which the citizens became prosperous.<ref name="GAG" /> The Obsidian Order, an [[intelligence agency]]<ref name="DS9C">Terry J. Erdmann with Paula M. Block, ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion'' (New York: [[Pocket Books]], 2000)</ref> and [[internal security]] [[police]] force, kept the population under [[surveillance]].<ref name="STE">Michael Okuda, Denise Okuda, Debbie Mirek, ''The Star Trek Encyclopedia'' (New York: [[Pocket Books]], 1999)</ref> The Cardassians became [[Imperialism|imperialistic]], waging war with other races and [[Military occupation|occupying]] their territory to exploit resources.<ref name="GAG" /> The Cardassian [[empire]] is known as the Cardassian Union.<ref name="ABC">Alex Burston-Chorowicz, 'Engage!: Captain Picard, Federationism and U.S. Foreign Policy in the Emerging Post-Cold War World' in Peter W. Lee (ed.), ''Exploring Picard's Galaxy'' (McFarland and Company, 2018)</ref>

=== Occupation of Bajor ===
In 2328, the Cardassians invaded [[Bajoran|Bajor]], occupying it for forty years, during which time they forced many Bajorans into [[slave labor]], using them in their various [[mining]] operations.<ref name="STE" /> This forced many Bajorans to flee and live in [[refugee camp]]s away from Cardassian domination,<ref name="ABC" /><ref>"[[Ensign Ro (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Ensign Ro]]". ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]''. Season Five.</ref> while other Bajorans became involved in the [[resistance movement]], engaged in [[guerrilla warfare]] organising [[Terrorism|terrorist]] attacks against Cardassian targets.<ref name="STE" /><ref name="ABC" />

The [[United Federation of Planets|Federation]] would not intervene in the situation, due to [[Prime Directive]] considerations.<ref name="ABC" /><ref>Judith Reeves-Stevens and Garfield Reeves-Stevens, ''The Making of Star Trek, Deep Space Nine'' (New York: [[Pocket Books]], 1994)</ref>

In 2369, the Bajoran resistance forced the Cardassians off Bajor, after which the Bajoran [[Bajoran#Provisional Government|Provisional Government]] invited the [[United Federation of Planets]] to set up base on the former Cardassian mining station of Terok Nor, renaming it [[Deep Space Nine (space station)|Deep Space Nine]].<ref name="STE" />

=== Dominion War ===
{{Main article|Dominion War}}
During the Dominion War, the Cardassian Union joined the [[Dominion (Star Trek)|Dominion]] in opposition to the Federation alliance, taking a main role below the Dominion's rulers, the [[Changeling (Star Trek)|Founders]].<ref name="DS9C" /> They were supplanted by the [[Breen (Star Trek)|Breen Confederacy]] and, after some of their territory was promised to the Breen, the Cardassians rebelled against the Dominion, and were instrumental in defeating the Dominion and ending the war.<ref name="DS9C" /> It was a [[Bajoran]], Colonel [[Kira Nerys]] of the [[Bajoran#Bajoran Militia|Bajoran Militia]], who trained the Cardassians in guerrilla warfare to defeat their own occupiers.<ref name="DS9C" />