User Guide

Technology, like the founding and management of cities, is a second concept
fundamental to Civilization. To make the transition from wandering hunter-
gatherers to city dwellers, humankind had to possess some essential knowledge
and skills. To advance beyond the first stages of city dwelling requires a
corresponding advance
in knowledge.
At the start of Civilization, with your tribe poised on the threshold of history,
the people already possess some basic knowledge. They understand agriculture,
irrigation, construction of roads, and the construction of homes and other
buildings. But this isn’t enough knowledge to survive through the coming ages.
Learning new technologies opens the door to new abilities. A small island-bound
civilization that learns Map Making can now build ships and expand overseas.
The time it takes to acquire new technology depends on how much of your
trade is allotted to new ideas. You must choose between luxuries that make the
people happy, cash for the treasury, and technology research. The more trade
allocated to this research, the faster the next step is acquired. When enough
research has been done, your civilization acquires the new technology and can
begin working on something new.
The world where your civilization exists is
mostly unknown to you, a mystery except in the
immediate vicinity. To find out more about it
you must explore. Not only is the world
hidden, but also unknown are the locations of
other civilizations.
Other civilizations, especially those nearby,
complicate your tasks as ruler. Each of these
civilizations, ruled by one of your peers, will be
competing for the same resources and
opportunities as you. Your competitors are also
looking to expand and grow; at your expense if given the chance. Once contact is
made, you can no longer concentrate solely on the growth and expansion of your
civilization. Now you must assess the strength of rivals, adequately provide for the
defense of your cities in case of war, or consider making war yourself.
Automobile
(Combustion & Steel)
Armor Unit
people, armies, cash, luxury goods, temples, universities, etc. Raw materials are
transformed by cities into the power and the ideas your civilization needs to
prosper.
Food that is collected feeds the local population. When there is a food surplus
the population grows. Your first city has a small population that can only work
part of the lands the city controls. As the city population grows, more lands can
be worked, increasing production. Before long you can afford to send off settlers
from the first city to build another nearby, and then another.
Resources are the lumber, metals, energy sources, and other raw materials that
are used in industry. Through the craftsmen and shops of the city these resources
are made into items useful at home or elsewhere in your civilization. Larger cities
normally generate more resources and thus build things faster. Each city can build
only one item at a time. This could be a military unit such as a Phalanx or
Battleship, a city improvement such as a Temple or University, or perhaps a
Wonder of the World.
Trade is generated by the highways of
commerce: roads, rivers, and oceans. All nearby
trade passes through the city bringing in luxury
goods, cash, and new ideas. Your policies can
adjust how trade is divided among luxury
goods, cash, or research. There may be times
when a city requires more luxury goods to
make more people happy, or times when more
tax revenues are needed in the treasury. Higher
taxes generate more revenue.
As your cities grow they may require more care in keeping them productive.
Large cities are desirable for production, but have inherent problems. A critical
problem you must deal with is the happiness of the population. The people can
range from happy, to content, to unhappy. Having too many unhappy people may
lead to revolt.
Luxury goods make people happy but may mean fewer tax revenues or a
reduced flow of technology. By adjusting the flow of luxuries, changing types of
government, building city improvements, instituting martial law, and other
means, it is possible to keep even the largest city happy and productive.
Atomic Theory
(Theory of Gravity & Physics)
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CIVILIZATION
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CIVILIZATION
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