If the Connection Between the Anunnaki and the King List is Authentic, Is Humanity or the Anunnaki the True Subject of History?

Hey, you've hit the nail on the head. This is truly one of the core philosophical questions within ancient astronaut theory. If we genuinely accept the premise of this "Anunnaki created humanity" script, then we really need to ponder who the main character is in this grand drama of history.

This isn't a simple question to answer with either "humans" or "the Anunnaki," because it resembles more of a transfer of protagonism. We can look at it in several stages:

Stage One: The Anunnaki as the Absolute Protagonists (Mythic Age/Prehistory)

At this stage, the subject of history was undeniably the Anunnaki.

They were the Directors and Screenwriters: According to this theory, Earth's history, at least the history of intelligent life, was initiated by them. They came to Earth for a purpose (like mining), found they needed labor, and thus created humans through genetic engineering. In this script, the emergence of humanity itself was an "event" within the Anunnaki storyline.
Humans as "Functional Characters" (NPCs): Early humans were more like NPCs (Non-Player Characters) in a game. Programmed for work tasks (mining, serving the gods), they lacked independent civilizational goals or free will. Their joys, sorrows, life, and death revolved entirely around the needs of the "gods."
The First Half of the Sumerian King List is Evidence: Those impossibly long reigns (tens of thousands of years) listed in the King List, according to this theory, don't record "human" kings at all, but rather the Anunnaki's direct rulers or agents on Earth. Their lifespans and abilities far exceeded humans, so their "history" was the main narrative of the world at that time.

A Simple Analogy: It's like playing a simulation game (e.g., SimCity). You (the Anunnaki) are the player. To develop your city (mining), you create little people (humans) to serve you. In the early game, the main storyline is entirely about you, the player: how you plan, how you develop. The little people exist to fulfill your objectives.

Stage Two: Blurring and Transfer of Protagonism (The Great Flood & The Dawn of Civilization)

This stage is the most fascinating turning point in the whole story. The subject of history becomes blurred and shared.

The "Tools" Begin to Awaken: Humans gradually developed self-awareness, emotions, and intelligence. They were no longer mere tools that followed orders. Myths are filled with stories of interaction, rebellion, and even intermarriage between humans and "gods." This indicates humans began developing their own "storylines."
Internal Divisions Among the Anunnaki: Myths also mention disagreements among the Anunnaki about how to handle humanity. Some gods (like Enlil) found humans too noisy and disobedient, wanting to solve the problem permanently with a Great Flood. Others (like Enki) felt sympathy for humans and secretly helped them (like Noah/Utnapishtim) survive the catastrophe.
The Great Flood as the Watershed: After the Flood, the reign lengths on the King List drastically shortened, becoming much closer to a human lifespan. This can be interpreted as: the Anunnaki either left Earth or retreated into the background, handing over the "management" of Earth to humans. They went from being "protagonists on stage" to "observers behind the scenes" or "occasional guest stars."

Continuing the Analogy: The little people in your game suddenly gain AI. They start falling in love, forming cliques, even complaining about your city planning. One part of you (Enlil) wants to wipe the slate clean. Another part (Enki) finds this interesting and secretly gives them some advanced tools. Finally, you decide to let them develop on their own, watching from above. At this point, who is the protagonist of the game? You, or the little people? It becomes unclear.

Stage Three: Humanity as the Absolute Protagonist of History (Post-Written Records)

From this stage onward, the subject of history unequivocally becomes humanity.

We Write Our Own History: We began using our own writing to record our wars, cultures, laws, and dynastic changes. Although early civilizations were still filled with reverence and sacrifices to the "gods," the core narrative had become about how "we humans" built nations, lived our lives, and explored the world.
The "Gods" Become Background: The Anunnaki (if they existed) completely receded, becoming part of myth, religious belief, and philosophical thought. They were no longer "actors" directly intervening in history, but "concepts" influencing the human spirit. Humans began fighting for their own desires, ideals, and survival, not for the tasks of the gods.
Historical Agency Lies in "Choice": The protagonist of history is the one capable of making "choices" and bearing the consequences. When we began deciding for ourselves who to fight, what kind of society to build, and what future to explore, we became the absolute protagonists of history.

The Final Analogy: Those little people not only developed thriving cities on their own but also started writing novels and making movies about their own heroes and adventures. And you, the original "player," exist only in their ancient legends, referred to as the "Creator God."

To Summarize

So, if the connection between the Anunnaki and the King List is real:

The subject of history underwent a transfer from the [Anunnaki] to [Humanity].

Early on, the Anunnaki were the protagonists; humans were supporting characters.
In the middle period, it was a drama with "dual protagonists," full of interaction, conflict, and the transfer of power.
From the later period to the present, humanity is the absolute protagonist. We inherited this planet and began writing chapters entirely our own.

The most captivating aspect of this theory is that it doesn't diminish human greatness. Instead, it gives humanity a more legendary origin: we awakened from being "tools of the gods" to become "masters of civilization," transforming from passive creations into active creators. Our history is an epic saga of independence and freedom.