You can choose to play as one of the following historical civilizations, or create your own custom civilization! Each civilization has unique characteristics, historical context, and may receive special bonuses during timeline events.
💡 IMPORTANT: You are NOT limited to these civilizations! You can create your own civilization with any name, region, and starting traits. These presets are here to inspire you and provide historical context.
📚 Major Civilizations
🏺 Egypt (Ancient Egypt)
Region: Egypt, North Africa
Historical Context: One of the world's oldest civilizations, Egypt flourished along the Nile River from 3100 BCE. Known for pyramids, pharaohs, and advanced architecture. The Nile's annual floods provided fertile soil for agriculture.
🔨 +30% Industry Bonus (4500 BCE)📜 Early Writing System (2250 BCE)🏗️ Great Pyramids Wonder
Strategy Tips: Focus on industry early. Build quickly to establish dominance. Your industry bonus arrives early (4500 BCE), so use it to construct temples and infrastructure before other civilizations catch up.
🏛️ Greece (Ancient Greece)
Region: Greece, Mediterranean
Historical Context: Greek city-states like Athens and Sparta dominated the Mediterranean. Known for philosophy, democracy, theatre, and the Olympic Games. Peak influence: 800-146 BCE.
🎭 Culture Per House (1300 BCE)🗡️ Iron Age Tech (1000 BCE)🏛️ Colossus Wonder
Strategy Tips: Cultural powerhouse. Your culture-per-house bonus makes population growth extremely valuable. Pair with Creativity trait for maximum culture output. Strong mid-game civilization.
🦅 Rome (Roman Empire)
Region: Italia, Latins, Mediterranean
Historical Context: From a small city-state to an empire spanning three continents. Known for military prowess, engineering (roads, aqueducts), and law. Peak: 27 BCE - 476 CE.
⚔️ Military Excellence🏛️ Colosseum Wonder🛡️ Late-game Barbarian Attacks
Strategy Tips: Military-focused civilization. Build walls and Archimedes Towers to survive late-game barbarian invasions. Strength trait recommended. Domination victory viable.
🏺 Persia (Persian Empire)
Region: Persia, Middle East
Historical Context: Founded by Cyrus the Great (550 BCE), the Persian Empire became the largest empire of ancient times. Known for tolerance, efficient administration, and the Royal Road.
👥 Population Bonus (480 BCE)🗡️ Iron Age Tech (1000 BCE)🏛️ Gates of Ishtar Wonder
Strategy Tips: Receives special regional bonus at 480 BCE. Strong mid-to-late game civilization. Focus on population growth to maximize the 480 BCE population doubling event.
🐉 China (Ancient China)
Region: China, East Asia
Historical Context: One of the world's oldest continuous civilizations. Invented paper, gunpowder, compass, and printing. Known for dynasties, the Great Wall, and Confucian philosophy.
📜 Early Writing System (2250 BCE)🏗️ Great Wall Wonder🗡️ Iron Age Tech (1000 BCE)🛡️ Barbarian Attacks (74 CE)
Strategy Tips: Balanced civilization with early writing bonus. Build the Great Wall for massive defense boost. Expect barbarian attacks in late game (74 CE) - prepare defenses!
🕉️ India (Ancient India)
Region: India, South Asia
Historical Context: Indus Valley Civilization (3300-1300 BCE) was one of the earliest urban civilizations. Later Vedic period brought Hinduism and Buddhism. Known for mathematics, astronomy, and spirituality.
📦 +5 Capacity Bonus (2250 BCE)📜 Early Writing System (2250 BCE)🗡️ Iron Age Tech (1000 BCE)
Strategy Tips: Extra capacity bonus allows for larger population. Excellent for long-term growth strategies. Pair with Health trait for maximum fertility and population expansion.
🌙 Fertile Crescent (Mesopotamia)
Region: Fertile Crescent, Mesopotamia, Middle East
Historical Context: "Cradle of Civilization" between Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Sumerians invented writing (cuneiform), the wheel, and first cities. Home to Babylon, Assyria, and Akkad.
📜 Early Writing System (2250 BCE)🏗️ Hanging Gardens Wonder🗡️ Iron Age Tech (1000 BCE)
Strategy Tips: The birthplace of civilization. Early writing advantage gives +3 science. Strong early-game start. Focus on science and culture for cultural victory.
🏛️ Phoenicia (Phoenician Traders)
Region: Phoenicia, Mediterranean Coast
Historical Context: Master seafarers and traders (1500-300 BCE). Invented the alphabet that became the basis for Greek and Latin scripts. Founded colonies like Carthage across the Mediterranean.
⚙️ Bronze Age Tech (1300 BCE)🌊 Maritime Trade
Strategy Tips: Good for diplomatic/cultural strategies. Consider Beauty or Wisdom traits. May benefit from alliance mechanics.
⚔️ Assyria
Region: Assyria, Mesopotamia
Historical Context: Powerful military empire (2500-609 BCE) known for brutal warfare tactics, siege weapons, and efficient administration. Conquered most of the ancient Near East at its peak.
⚔️ Military Bonus (825 BCE)📉 Decline Event (560 BCE)
Strategy Tips: Strong military bonuses in 825 BCE, but faces decline in 560 BCE. Play aggressively early, conquer before decline hits. Strength trait essential.
🐘 Carthage
Region: Carthage, North Africa
Historical Context: Phoenician colony that became a major power (814-146 BCE). Rival to Rome, famous for Hannibal's crossing of the Alps with war elephants during the Punic Wars.
🎯 Entry Event (560 BCE)⚔️ Rival to Rome
Strategy Tips: Later start (560 BCE entry), but can quickly catch up. Military focus recommended. Natural rival to Rome - war likely.
✡️ Israel (Ancient Israel)
Region: Israel, Levant
Historical Context: Kingdom of Israel and Judah (1050-586 BCE). Monotheistic religion (Judaism) that influenced Christianity and Islam. Known for King David, King Solomon, and the Temple of Jerusalem.
✝️ Religious Focus🆓 Independence Event (74 CE)
Strategy Tips: Faith-based civilization. Wisdom trait recommended. Found Judaism early when religions unlock (1000 BCE). Cultural/faith victory path.
🗡️ Gaul (Celtic Gaul)
Region: Gaul (Modern France), Western Europe
Historical Context: Celtic tribes inhabiting modern France and Belgium (1200 BCE - 50 BCE). Known for fierce warriors and druidic traditions. Eventually conquered by Julius Caesar.
⚙️ Bronze Age Tech (1300 BCE)⚔️ Warrior Culture
Strategy Tips: Military-focused with bronze age advantages. Strength trait fits well. May face Roman expansion in late game.
🏛️ Anatolia (Asia Minor)
Region: Anatolia, Turkey
Historical Context: Home to Hittites, Lydians, and later Byzantine Empire. Strategic crossroads between Europe and Asia. Troy was located here. Rich in resources and trade routes.
⚙️ Bronze Age Tech (1300 BCE)🗡️ Iron Age Tech (1000 BCE)🏛️ Walls of Justinian Wonder
Strategy Tips: Balanced civilization with both bronze and iron age bonuses. Good for science-focused builds. Defensive wonders available.
🌏 Regional Groupings
Understanding regional groupings helps you anticipate timeline events. Many events affect specific regions!
🌍 Mediterranean World
Greece, Rome, Phoenicia, Carthage, Anatolia, Egypt (coastal) → Expect: Trade events, naval warfare, cultural exchanges, Bronze Age, Iron Age
🏜️ Middle East
Fertile Crescent, Mesopotamia, Persia, Assyria, Israel → Expect: Early writing, religious events, empire conflicts, irrigation bonuses
🌏 East Asia
China → Expect: Great Wall construction, writing systems, barbarian invasions, dynasty events
🕉️ South Asia
India → Expect: Capacity bonuses, philosophical/religious events, monsoon-related challenges
🌍 North Africa
Egypt, Carthage → Expect: Desert challenges, Nile flood events, Roman conflicts
🎨 Creating Your Own Civilization
You can create ANY civilization you want! Here are some ideas:
Custom Ideas
Suggested Region
Recommended Traits
Vikings (Norse raiders)
Scandinavia
Strength, Beauty
Sparta (Greek city-state)
Greece
Strength, Health
Athens (Greek city-state)
Greece
Creativity, Intelligence
Babylon (Mesopotamian empire)
Fertile Crescent
Intelligence, Wisdom
Nubia (African kingdom)
Egypt, Nubia
Strength, Industrious
Celts (Western Europe)
Gaul, Britain
Strength, Creativity
Etruscans (Pre-Roman Italy)
Italia
Creativity, Industrious
Hittites (Anatolian empire)
Anatolia
Strength, Intelligence
💡 Strategic Considerations
Early Game Civilizations (Strong Start):
Egypt, Fertile Crescent, India, China
→ Get bonuses before 2000 BCE, establish dominance early
Mid Game Civilizations (Strong 1000-500 BCE):
Greece, Persia, Assyria
→ Receive major bonuses during iron age and classical period
Late Game Civilizations (Strong After 500 BCE):
Rome, Carthage
→ Late entries or late bonuses, but powerful in final centuries
Cultural/Faith Focused:
Greece, Israel, India, Athens (custom)
→ Pair with Creativity or Wisdom traits, cultural victory
Balanced/Science Focused:
China, Fertile Crescent, Persia, Babylon (custom)
→ Pair with Intelligence trait, wonder construction
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I have to choose one of these civilizations?
A: No! These are suggestions. You can create any civilization with any name.
Q: Can I play as two different regions?
A: Yes! You can mark yourself as multiple regions (e.g., "Egypt and Phoenicia").
Q: What if multiple students choose the same civilization?
A: That's fine! There can be multiple Egyptian civilizations, for example. Differentiate with names like "Upper Egypt" or "Lower Egypt".
Q: Do the timeline bonuses only apply once?
A: Yes, each event happens once when the teacher advances to that year.
Q: Which civilization is "the best"?
A: There is no "best" - it depends on your strategy, trait choices, and how you adapt to events!
Choose wisely, young historian!
Your civilization's fate depends on your strategy, adaptation, and a little luck with the timeline events.