Formidable adversaries are arrayed against you. Your people stand ready. History beckons.

In your hands lies the destiny of one of history's great civilizations. Under constant threat of attack, you must conquer new lands, oversee dramatic scientific and cultural advances, and lead your people into the era of empire. Expand too rapidly and unrest will bring your civilization to its knees; build up too slowly, however, and you might find yourself a mere footnote of history. As one of six radically asymmetric civilizations you will compete to become the most dominant empire the world has ever seen.

This box contains the Egyptian, Viking, Celt, Persian, Zhou, and Olmec civilizations.