All credit to u/Quirky55 who gave me permission

I would like to take the time to discuss a very underrated topic of Minecraft: it’s lore. I have a feeling that a lot of people are going to say “Minecraft doesn’t have a lore,” but here me out. I think a lot of people are going to need this (Or not).

To start, there are two explanations (I think). One more scientific like the dead star/black hole theory, and the more mythological one. I’m going to focus on the latter.

Let’s examine the structures: • Ocean Monuments/Ruins: I think these are the oldest, since they’re underwater, which suggests massive flooding. It’s my belief that the monuments housed Priests, predecessors to the Evokers (more on that later). The ruins held normal civilians, predecessors to villagers. During the flooding, many of the priests stayed in their temples, eventually giving in to th e flooding and turning themselves into Guardians. Everyone else escapes to higher ground.

•Desert temples: It is my belief that after the flooding, in an effort to preserve their culture, the villagers and remaining priests built these hastily, which is why they look somewhat like ocean monuments. Their lack of knowledge about the higher land is why they are so small, being new blocks to them. I also believe that the area before the flooding was desert like, hence the new temples.

•Jungle temples: As time went on, some priests left the village to discover new lands, and also erect new temples. They found the jungles, and constructed the new temples. They also trapped it so only those worthy may enter.

•Woodland Mansions: After the construction of the jungle temples, the priests left once again, from both the desert and jungle, to live in structures bigger than the small temples. They found the mystical dark oak forest, which was a prime spot for magic. The size of the woodland mansion is also comparable to that of the ocean monument.

•Mineshafts: Early attempts at mining for resources after the flood.

•Strongholds: Libraries of the High Priests, where they eventually discovered the End.

Now that we have those set up, here’s the story: The early peoples of Minecraft lived in what is now the ocean. They were ruled by an order called the High Priests, whose magical knowledge was undisputed. They lived in huge temples (The Ocean Monuments). One day, they stumbled upon a new world: The Nether. It was always hellish, but it was barren at the time. The High Priests then started casting failed experiments and incantations there (Pigmen, Wither Skeletons, Blazes, Ghasts). The pigmen eventually became sentient enough to construct Nether Fortresses. Meanwhile, the experiments continued, until a breakthrough was reached: The discovery of the End Dimension. The High Priests found a thriving Endermen population, with cities and ships and whatnot (At this point they had green eyes). The teleporting abilities of the Endermen astounded the High Priests, and they sought to create a creature like them. They made two eggs, in case one failed. They hatched the first one, which became known as the Ender Dragon. She became sentient enough to kill her creators, take the second egg, and fled to the End. There she took forceful control of the Endermen (Now they have purple eyes). She kept the second egg on her, for safekeeping. She then sent her subjects to terrorize the Overworld people, since she could not teleport herself. All End portals were destroyed, yet they still came. The High Priests had a problem on their hands, and no way to solve it. Once they discovered the Endermen hatred of water, they planned to flood the world and head to higher ground. Many people fled, as directed, but a few of the Priests stayed behind. When the flood came, the Priests transformed themselves into Guardians, to protect the temple forever. On land, the society had to start anew. They built new villages and temples, although not as grand as the first ones. Years past, and descendants of the High Priests had enough. They couldn’t stand not having power and authority like they once did, and up and left. They headed for the more magical Dark Oak Forests, where they built mansions for themselves. They eventually morphed into what are now Evokers, and their followers Vindicators and the rest of the illagers. The villagers now had a similar problem: Hoards of monsters, including some Endermen, attacking the village. Attempts to head out to sea where thwarted by illagers and zombies who adapted to water (Shipwrecks). They used what little magic they could and produced enchantment tables, enchantments, and Iron Golems. It still proved worthless, as they still kept being attacked. The threat of the Ender Dragon still loomed, along with whatever creatures were banished to the Nether. In one last, desperate attempt, they created a being, so powerful it could defeat the dragon, and even save itself from death: You. They player. And that’s how Minecraft began.