I found an interesting comment about the Matrix that I wanted to post:
You might also consider that Neo is a messiah. A Christ figure. And integral to prophecies and messiah’s is that the truth they show, and the path they walk, is never what anyone expects. So Neo isn’t there to free people from the Matrix into the world of Zion. It’ll almost certainly be something else. —Morat
i think humans had a world war and destroyed the land, They had to live underground where they continued fighting and space was a problem .Humans invented matrix to keep suspended our species till time to go topside.They even built a peel matrix. A sec matrix to catch trouble makers who break the matrix. Neo is sent there where he feels satisfied . Zion is still a matrix. But why machines vs man? Maybe the creators thought man needs to leasrn to work together so a common enemy is the best teacher;gets all opposing sides to cooporate. Aliens machines watever.This way humans live in a declared peace In the central matrix and in a cooporative system in the peel.The creators cud have set the 2nd matrix to tell humans in it that theyve escaped and learn the truth and go live topside while really still in the peel.But then humans would again fight each other in the peel till realtime to go topside. Creators wanted a learning period.But why not create this common enemy in the core matrix?I dunno.