On The Species of Tamriel, Volume X: The Wanderers and The Nedes/The Ancestry of Men

Welcome back to the tenth volume of 'On the Species of Tamriel'. This volume is designed as a short explanation on the history and origin of Men. While there is not much known about it (as opposed to the origin of Mer), there have been interesting theories in recent times.
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The origin of Man has been subject of much debate recently. New views and theories have been presented to replace the older, possibly wrong origin theory. First, we will take a look at the traditional view, followed by the new theories.
The Bretons, Nords and Imperials descend from both the Atmorans and the Nedes. The Nedes were a race of humans were said to have come from Atmora, and pushed outwards from Skyrim to the south and the west, settling in High Rock and Cyrodiil. The Atmorans were the next race of humans to come to Tamriel from Atmora, fleeing a civil war, settling Skyrim and building the city of Sarthaal. The Yokudans, another human race came later, but from a different continent, the continent of Yokuda, as they held no further link to the other races of Men than their appearance. The Nedes lived in Cyrodiil and High Rock as slaves under the elves (the Ayleids and the Aldmer, respectively). After years, the different groups of Nedes and the Atmorans would become the now extant races of Man, which will be discussed in later issues. Where the Kothringi tie in, is unknown
As believable as this theory might sound, it has been shown in recent years that this is not the case. The only reason why we still see this wrong history used, is because of the supremacy of the Imperial Geographical Society, who are too self-absorbed to admit their wrong thesis. Younger scholars have, however, in recent years, come up with a new theory, which not only ties in the Redgaurds, but also the races of Mer.
According to this newer theory, the Ehlnofey split at some point, forming the Old Ehlnofey (who became Aldmer, the ancestors of the races of Mer), and the Wanderering Ehlnofey (who became the races of Men). The Wanderers scattered over Tamriel, and some of them travelled to Atmora and Yokuda. The ones that remained became the Nedes, those that settled Atmora became the Atmorans and those that settled Yokuda became the Yokudans. The Kothringi settled in Black Marsh, while the Nedes settled in Cyrodiil and High Rock, and Hammerfell mostly lived in tribal communities. The Nedes beaame slaves of the Ayleids or Wild Elves in Cyrodiil and the Direnni in High Rock. After the Atmorans drove the Falmer or Snow Elves out of Skyrim in revenge for the slaughter of humans at Sarthaal (the event later known as the Night of Tears), they spread across Tamriel. Those who stayed in Skyrim interbred with the local Nedes and became the ancestors of the Nords. Those who went to High Rock interbred with both the Nedes and the Manmer, who were low class citizens to the Aldmer, this intermingling gave birth to the Bretons. The Atmorans who went south into Cyrodiil were captured and enslaved by the Ayleids and interbred with the enslaved Nedes during their captivity and their descendants became modern day Imperials.
This theory is much wider than the original one, and explains a lot the older one did not.
First off, it gives a tie-in for the Redgaurds, making them different. Furthermore, it explains the fact that the Men share the same intelligence as all other races. Since the Mer originate from Aedra, and the Argonians get their sentience from the Hist trees and their almost infinite knowledge, it is hard to imagine a other, independent group of creatures to develop the same intelligence without (almost) divine help or heritage.
The last thing it explains is more historical in nature: while we know that the Atmorans ferociously fought to secure their new-found land of Skyrim from the local elven inhabitants, the Snow Elves, the Nedes lived as slaves in Cyrodiil. It is strange to think of a race of fighters submitting to slavery, while their Atmoran cousins in Skyrim were still free. 
All in all, even though the new theory does not find wide-spread acclaim and support, it does give a rounder background, and a more satisfying explanation.
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While these two theories are interesting and credible, some caution should be taken: most human origin myths are either contradicting, or do not explain the exact origin of Men. It is possible that one of these theories is right, or that non of them are. Still, A basic understanding is required to fully understand the culture and history of the races of Men.
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