Around the fourth century, the philosopher Surak led Vulcans away from violent passion toward logic, ending an era of wars that had nearly destroyed their world.
Before the Time of Awakening the Vulcans were a fierce and passionate people whose wars ravaged their planet and threatened to end their civilisation. The philosopher Surak taught that emotion must be mastered through logic and that peace could only come from the discipline of the mind.
Surak's teachings spread slowly and reshaped Vulcan society, although not every Vulcan accepted them. He died of radiation poisoning after travelling to make peace, and his katra was preserved. His original writings were gathered in the Kir'Shara, which was lost for centuries. Vulcans came to revere him as the father of their modern civilisation.
In 2154 Archer, T'Pol and the Syrrannites recovered the Kir'Shara in the Forge, exposing how the Vulcan High Command had distorted Surak's philosophy. In 2269 Kirk and Spock met an image of Surak created by the Excalbians.