What does BG mean in Dune?

What does BG mean in Dune?

In the "Dune" universe, BG stands for "Before Guild." It refers to the time period before the establishment of the Spacing Guild. This is a powerful organization that controls interstellar travel in the future depicted in the "Dune" novels.

Here's a breakdown of the term and its significance:

Before Guild: This period predates the year 10,191 AG (After Guild), which is the setting of the first "Dune" novel.

Duration: The BG era lasted for roughly 10,000 years.

Significance: This era is crucial to understanding the setting and technology of the "Dune" universe. It explains:

The Butlerian Jihad: A major historical event during the BG era, which was a widespread war against thinking machines and conscious robots. This conflict led to a societal ban on such technology, explaining the lack of advanced AI and robots in the "Dune" future.

The origin of the Spacing Guild: The Guild arose after the Butlerian Jihad, filling the need for safe and efficient interstellar travel while adhering to the anti-machine sentiment.

Therefore, understanding BG provides context for the technological limitations and historical background of the "Dune" universe.