Board Thread:Manga/@comment-29015168-20160918112018

This is what I believe in regards to the history of the titans:  It is implied by the head of the garrison (the old bald guy who likes to drink) that the only way to stop humanity from fighting itself is for them to have a common enemy. He makes this remark a few chapters after his character is introduced. Now if we are to assume that the author has a reason for every bit of dialog (assuming it's not a red herring) then we can assume this is some insight into the history of the titans. So my theroy is that manking had reached the point of evolution that the real world had reach during world war I. Which is prossible considering we know they have created technology up to the point of photography. And just like in real history, mankind has become advanced enough to do serious damage to itself.

Now if we take hints from the manga, including the decifer from the maps that are shown on the manga covers and also assuming there is some canon information from the live action movie* we can believe that the titans were originally created as a weapon of war. This weapon became out of control but had a unforeseen yet favorable result. Once mankind saw its titan weapon was indiscrimintley attacking all humans instead of just one cultures enemy it forced all mankind to band together to fight off the titans. They succeeded to the point that human extintion was no longer a fear. But did not succeed in destorying the coordinate which could start this all over again. Now the person who was in control of the coordinate (whether he created the coordiante or was some leader that weilded the power) was who we know as King Reiss. I believe that he was of caucasian decent fighting other caucasians (such as europeans fighting other european countries like in WWI). This would explain why asains are immune to the mind control. They were never intended target or enemies in this war so the coordinate was not built as a weapon towards them. The caucasian clans that are also immune are decendants of whichever country created the coordinate. So lets say Germany created the coordinate then anyone from german decent would not be effected by the mind control. EIther that or it is a result of genetics that all asians carry along with a select group of caucasians (curiously there are no other races in the manga).

King Reiss had Hitler like ideology. He believed in a pure race with pure ideals. He saw that his power of the titans backfired and ended up uniting all of humanity and therefore he could not win. So as a plan B he decided to create his own perfect world. By escaping to an ideal location he used his power to create the walls. He did this by making people who were loyal to him to turn into titans (which we know is possible due to the beast titan) and then using his mind control coordinate power to have those people form a circle and harden into the walls.

The area of the walls was large and inside the circumfrence there were already people living. He gave them 2 options: live in his world or be condemmed to becoming mindless titans. Those that rebeled were turned into titans and sent outside the walls. These titans not only function as jailers for the humans inside, but as guards to keep out anyone who is outside.

His next step was to wipe the memories of all those inside to prevent any possible rebellion or usurpers. This gave him complete control to rewrite history as he saw fit (very much how Hitler attempted to do and also in North Korea). This also allowed the king to ensure that no one could form an uprising as all forms of technology (like flight, weapons, advanced engineering, etc) were forgotten. Among these people some were not able to have their memories wiped. So they were now given a different choice: pledge your alligence and live a life of luxurary while serving at his side OR be destroyed. Those that choose the later were hunted down by the former and the newly assimilated humans. All family related to them were also killed in order to prevent a future uprising.

Now to King Riess this plan seemed just. He saw that all humans on the outside were guilty of being lazy and spoiled from their technology and luxurarys. Along with causing horrible battles and wars among themselves for pointless reasons like land and control. He knew in his little world this would never happen and all humans would live in peace. All of King Reiss's decendants gained his knowledge of humanity and knew that even though humans were capable of creating great things, they would ultimately use there knowledge and power for greed and attack eachother in a never ending cycle. Only by keeping people monitored and contained, away from outside influence, could peace be assured. This means limiting technology and education. Somewhat similair to North Korea and it's philosphy of being completely self-sufficant.

Unknown to the Reiss decendants and all of those in the walls, is that outside the walls mankind actually did achieve peace. After defeating the titans they used the power for good. They had finally discovered how to create titans which retained their intelligence and shifted back to human form. A new age of civilization was created in which all cultures helped eachother and used their titan powers for good. This is why Grisha is completely ignorant to the concept of money. On the outside people have become self-less and no longer desire the greed of money.

As humanity recovered and strengthened they decided the threat of the coordinate existing was too dangerous. That as long as it existed there was always a chance of war returning. So a warrior villiage, similiar to the culture of Sparta, was entrusted with destroying the coordinate. The "village" is comprised of fighters who train with the sole purpose to use thier titan powers in militaristic way. They are raised and bred to fight for the good of humanity. They know that all the humans inside the walls have been tainted by the coordinate and still retain the old ideals of past humans. That anyone of them could potentially restart another WWI. Although they would prefer not too, they understand that the only way to protect humanity is to destroy everyone inside the walls along with the coordinate. These people in the walls are all the remains of former man and all his destructive ways and sins.

Grisha, as the main chief of this village takes it upon himself to be the first one to infiltrate the walls. From there he will integrate into the society and create the opening for the rest of the warriors.

On the journey to the wall Grisha suffers an accident. Some fall or battle with a feral titan, and as a result he loses his memory. Over the years he slowly regains it but during this time he also begins to love the people in the walls. Realizing they are not as tainted and as theatening as first believed. He decides to stay, falls in love, has a family and enjoys life in the walls. Deciding to abandon his mission.

At this point his second in command, and son, Zeke has coorispondence with his father during this time. He does not believe the optimistic views his father now has and believes his father has abandoned the cause and become brainwashed. Zeke spends the next several years preparing to finish what his father started. When the warriors finally attack this enrages Grisha and, aware of Zekes plan to destroy all humans, decides that if he goes striaght to the source of the coordinate, that he can destroy the Reiss family, take away and destoy the coordinate and the humans inside the walls will finally be free.

Unfortunetly for Grisha he finds out that his wife was collateral damage of the attack and now realizes that his clan will not stop until all humans in the wall are dead. Even after finding the coordinate they will commit this genocide. So in desperation, and with nothing to lose, he gives his son the coordinate, sacrificing himself in the process. He knows that his son will have the best chance of defeating the warriors, if for no other reason then because he will blend in. Zeke and the other warriors are not aware that Eren has the coordinates and, because he is a half blood warrior, they would not kill him as they cherish the life of humans from outside the wall.

The problem is that even though mankind has discovered how to make intelligent titans by preventing full absorbtion of thier nervous system into the titan shell, one must still be trained just like an infant. Because there is no one with knowledge of this Eren lashes out and then trains to fight for man within the walls.

Numerous times we see how the people in the walls retain the evil ways of pre WWI humans. When the government is over taken many of the new leaders enact revenge and seek out power and greed. This is the very reason why the warriors can not let them into their world as they would infect it with there ways. But they also do not understand that there are many honest and just people who live among them too.

Ultimately I believe the end will come when Eren and the rest read the books. Eren (and now Armin) will use thier titan powers to defeat the warriors, showing them that not all the humans in the wall are evil. During this time the two of them and Mikasa will venture far outside the walls and finally see the ocean. They will return and tell those about it. Eren will realize that even though he holds the coordinate he can NEVER truely weild its full power to undo the damage. That only the last surviving Reiss decendant can do so. So Eren will sacrifice himself to give Historia the power of the coordinate. Because she is only a half-blood Reiss, she will be able to not fall under the influence of her predecessors memories and will be able to weild the power for good. She will destroy the titans and take down the walls. She will also cleanse any of the evil humans in the wall and finally allow the humans to intergrate with the outside.

During this time the warriors will have one last chance to kill Historia. And they will be right at the point of succedding except Yvette will change sides at the last moment. Killing the last warrior threat and sacrificing herself in the process.

After accomplishing this feat Historia will then sacrifice herself to finally rid the world of the coordinates power. Leaving only Armin, Mikasa, Levi and a few others to survive. They will attempt to adjust to the new world, while some (maybe Levi) will go off, lone wolf style, unable to adapt. The rest will end the story remembering their good friend Eren while embracing the real world.


 * For those who have not seen the live action movie.  Although I can accept that some non-canon liberities were taken for the sake of making it a movie, many plot points showing in the 2 part live action movie ended up becoming true.  For one, in the movie they explained that the reason why the titans nape is the weak spot is because that is where the true human is.  And that all titans are really humans who have become mindless.  This is shown true in the manga with the exception that the mindless titans nape contains the nervous system of the true human.  And that over time, if the titan is not returned to the form, that the nervous system permanently gets absorbed into the titan shell and then only eating a shapeshifter can return them to normal.

The movie also stated that titans were created as a weapon which went out of control during the height of human civilization. As this is one of the few facts that has yet to be proven or disproven in the manga I can hope to assume it's true. Especially since a decent part of the second movie is spent explaining this to the viewer. 