There are sixteen Civilizations to choose from at the start of each game. All civilizations have access to all units, buildings, technologies and wonders. They differ due to a variety special units and bonuses that become available at different stages of the game. Each civilization possesses:
- 1x Special Talent: A bonus that is in effect at the very beginning of the game.
- 4x Era bonuses: One extra bonus comes into effect at the advent of each age. All bonuses are cumulative.
- Several Special Units: Standard units are replaced with units historically significant to the civilization. This is a cosmetic difference as the statistics of the Special Units and their standard counterparts are the same. Note however that units of several civilizations may be more powerful as a result of an Era bonus.
[edit] America
Era Bonuses
| Ancient Era |
2% interest on Gold reserves |
| Medieval Era |
May Rush units at 1/2 cost |
| Industrial Era |
+1 Food from Plains regions |
| Modern Era |
Factories provide 3x Production (instead of 2x Production) |
- Leader: Lincoln
- Color: Dark Blue
- Special Talent: The Americans begin the game with a Great Person
- Special Units: Tank replaced by Sherman Tank, Bomber replaced by Flying Fortress, Fighter replaced by Mustang Fighter
[edit] Arabia
Era Bonuses
| Ancient Era |
+50% Caravan gold |
| Medieval Era |
Automatically gain Tech: Mathematics |
| Industrial Era |
+1 Attack for cavalry/knight units |
| Modern Era |
2% interest on Gold reserves |
- Leader: Saladin
- Color: Dark Green
- Special Talent: The Arabs begin the game with knowledge of Religion, and the government Fundamentalist.
- Special Units: None
Era Bonuses
| Ancient Era |
Units heal after combat victory |
| Medieval Era |
Temples provide +3 science |
| Industrial Era |
1/2 cost roads |
| Modern Era |
+50% Gold production |
- Leader: Montezuma
- Color: Light Pink
- Special Talent: The Aztecs begin the game with a wealth of gold.
- Special Units: Warrior replaced by Jaguar Warrior
Era Bonuses
| Ancient Era |
+1 Population to new Cities |
| Medieval Era |
Automatically gain tech: Literacy |
| Industrial Era |
1/2 cost Library |
| Modern Era |
Cities not affected by Anarchy |
- Leader: Mao
- Color: Orange
- Special Talent: The Chinese begin the game with knowledge of Writing.
- Special Units: None
[edit] England
Era Bonuses
| Ancient Era |
+1 Defense for Longbow Archers |
| Medieval Era |
+1 Naval Combat |
| Industrial Era |
+1 Production from Hills regions |
| Modern Era |
2x Naval Support |
- Leader: Elizabeth
- Color: Red
- Special Talent: The English begin the game with knowledge of Monarchy.
- Special Units: Archer replaced by Longbow Archer, Bomber replaced by Lancaster Bomber, Fighter replaced by Spitfire Fighter
Era Bonuses
| Ancient Era |
+1 Food and Trade from Desert regions |
| Medieval Era |
Automatically gain Tech: Irrigation |
| Industrial Era |
+1 Movement for Riflemen |
| Modern Era |
+50% Caravan gold |
- Leader: Cleopatra
- Color: Yellow
- Special Talent: The Egyptians begin the game with an Ancient Wonder.
- Special Units: None
[edit] France
Era Bonuses
| Ancient Era |
Automatically gain Tech: Pottery |
| Medieval Era |
1/2 cost roads |
| Industrial Era |
+2 Attack for Cannon |
| Modern Era |
+1 Movement for Riflemen |
- Leader: Napoleon
- Color: Pale blue
- Special Talent: The French begin the game with an impressive Cathedral.
- Special Units: Catapult replaced by Trebuchet, Artillery becomes Howitzer
[edit] Germany
Era Bonuses
| Ancient Era |
New Warriors are veterans |
| Medieval Era |
+1 Production from Forest squares |
| Industrial Era |
1/2 cost Barracks |
| Modern Era |
2% interest on Gold reserves |
- Leader: Bismark
- Color: Gray
- Special Talent: Elite units are upgraded instead of being rendered obsolete. [1]
- Special Units: Tank replaced by Panzer Tank, Artillery replaced by 88mm Gun, Bomber replaced by Heinkel Bomber, Fighter becomes ME109 Fighter
[edit] Greece
Era Bonuses
| Ancient Era |
Automatically gain Tech: Democracy |
| Medieval Era |
More Great People |
| Industrial Era |
1/2 cost Library |
| Modern Era |
+1 Food from Sea regions |
- Leader: Alexander The Great
- Color: Turquoise
- Special Talent: The Greeks begin the game with a Courthouse in the capital.
- Special Units: Galley replaced by Trireme, Pikeman replaced by Hoplite
Era Bonuses
| Ancient Era |
Cities not affected by Anarchy |
| Medieval Era |
Automatically gain Tech: Religion |
| Industrial Era |
1/2 cost Settlers |
| Modern Era |
1/2 cost Courthouse |
- Leader: Gandhi
- Color: Burgundy
- Special Talent: The Indians begin the game with access to all Special Resources.
- Special Units: None
Era Bonuses
| Ancient Era |
+1 Food from Sea regions |
| Medieval Era |
+1 Attack for Samurai Knight |
| Industrial Era |
Cities not affected by Anarchy |
| Modern Era |
New defensive units receive the Special Ability: Loyalty |
- Leader: Tokugawa
- Color: Red-orange
- Special Talent: The Japanese begin the game with knowledge of Ceremonial Burial.
- Special Units: Knight replaced by Samurai Knight, Pikeman replaced by Ashigaru Pikemen, Bomber replaced by Val Bomber, Fighter replaced by Zero Fighter
[edit] Mongolia
Era Bonuses
| Ancient Era |
Barbarian villages join you[2] |
| Medieval Era |
+1 Movement for cavalry units |
| Industrial Era |
+2 Production from Mountain regions |
| Modern Era |
Automatically gain Tech: Communism |
- Leader: Genghis Khan
- Special Talent: The Mongols begin the game with +50% trade from captured cities.
- Special Units: Horsemen replaced by Keshik
Era Bonuses
| Ancient Era |
1/2 cost roads |
| Medieval Era |
1/2 cost Wonders |
| Industrial Era |
More Great People |
| Modern Era |
+1 Population to new Cities |
- Leader: Caesar
- Special Talent: The Romans begin the game with a Republic (Government) and Code of Laws.
- Special Units: Knights are replaced by Cataphracts
- Color: Purple
[edit] Russia
Era Bonuses
| Ancient Era |
+1 Food from Plains squares |
| Medieval Era |
New defensive units receive the Special Ability: Loyalty |
| Industrial Era |
1/2 cost Riflemen |
| Modern Era |
3/4 cost Spies |
- Leader: Catherine The Great
- Special Talent: The Russians begin with a map of the surrounding area.
- Special Units: Horsemen replaced by Cossack, Tank replaced by T34 Tank
Era Bonuses
| Ancient Era |
Gains 2x Gold from exploration* |
| Medieval Era |
+1 Naval Combat |
| Industrial Era |
+50% Gold Production |
| Modern Era |
+1 Production from Hills |
* The gold reward for being the first civilization to explore a river, hill, etc.
- Leader: Isabella
- Special Talent: The Spanish begin the game with knowledge of Navigation.
- Special Units: Knight replaced by Conquistador
Era Bonuses
| Ancient Era |
+1 Movement for Warriors |
| Medieval Era |
Rapid city growth |
| Industrial Era |
+50% Gold production |
| Modern Era |
1/2 cost Riflemen |
- Leader: Shaka Zulu
- Special Talent: The Zulu have an Overrun combat advantage
- Special Units: Warriors replaced by Impi Warriors
- ↑ For example, on discovering Democracy, any Archer units of Elite-level veterancy will automatically be upgraded into Pikemen.
- ↑ After defeating a Barbarian village, it will necessarily become a settlement of your civilization
