Civilization (1980)

CIVILIZATION is a game of skill for 2 to 7 players. It covers the development of ancient civilizations from the invention of agriculture c. 8000 B.C. to the emergence of Rome around the middle of the third century B.C. Each player leads a nation of peoples over a mapboard of the Eastern Mediterranean and Near East as they attempt to carve a niche for themselves and their culture.

Although battles and territorial strategy are important, this is not a war game because it is not won by battle or conquest. Instead, the object of play is to gain a level of overall advancement involving cultural, economic, and political factors so that such conflicts that do arise are a result of rivalry and land shortage rather than a desire to eliminate other players. Nomad and farmer, warrior and merchant, artisan and citizen all have an essential part to play in the development of civilization. It is the player who most effectively changes emphasis between these various outlooks who will achieve the best balance - and win.
(from the Introduction to the Avalon Hill edition rulebook)

This game has a huge following and is widely regarded as one of the best games about ancient civilizations. Each player takes on the role of leader of an ancient civilization, such as the Illyrians or Babylonians. Your task is to guide your people through the ages by expanding your empire and using its proceeds to finance new technological advances, such as Literacy, Metalworking, or Law. The advancements help your civilization better cope with its problems as well as help bring new advancements.

Magazine References:

The GENERAL Index Article List:

• The GENERAL Vol.19,No.4
  • Civilization – “Let's Get Civilized - An Overview of Civilization” (Commentary/Strategy) Stephen W. Hall
  • Civilization – “Expanding Trade” (Variant) Mick (Mike) Uhl
  • Design Analysis - Civilization Mick (Mike) Uhl
• The GENERAL Vol.21,No.5
  • Civilization – “Choosing a Nation in CIVILIZATION - Quo Vadis” (Strategy) by Daniel V Ferens
• The GENERAL Vol.22,No.1
  • Civilization – “Playing the Land of the Pharoahs - EGYPT” (Strategy) by Steve Llewellyn
• The GENERAL Vol.22,No.3
  • Civilization – “Another Look at Civilization - Almost Civilized” (Strategy) by Francis Tresham
• The GENERAL Vol.23,No.6
  • Civilization – “How Ya Gonna Keep 'em Down on the Farm - City-Building Strategies for Civilization” (Strategy) by Albert Parker
• The GENERAL Vol.24,No.5
  • Civilization – “A Civilized Race - Getting Ahead on the AST” (Strategy) by Phillip Hanson
  • Civilization – “Warring and Winning - Conflict in CIVILIZATION” (Strategy) by Guy Hail
• The GENERAL Vol.26,No.1
  • Civilization – “Advanced Civilization - Beyond the Eleventh Card” (Variant) by Jim Eliason
• The GENERAL Vol.26,No.4
  • Civilization – “Taking the Long View - Playing Civilization for the Endgame” (Strategy) by Jeffrey Suchard
• The GENERAL Vol.28,No.6
  • Civilization – “Perspectives: Civilization in the Classroom” (Commentary) Rex A. Martin
• The GENERAL Vol.29,No.3
  • Civilization, History of the World– “The Rhetoric of games- Conflict vs. Combat; a close look at Civilization and History of the World– ” (Commentary) Robert Waters
• The GENERAL Vol.29,No.5
  • Civilization – “Rhetoric of Games-Vignettes of Ancient life” (Discussion) Jared Scarborough

Microbadges:
- Africa
- Asia
- Assyria
- Babylon
- Crete
- Egypt
- Italy
- Illyria
- Thrace

Awards

• Games Magazine Hall of Fame Inductee.

Components:

• 1 Archeological Succession Card
• Mapboard
• 9 Sets of Playing Pieces (70 x 9 Nations)
• 1 Deck of 74 Trade Cards (Plus 6 Spares)
• 1 Deck of 72 Civilization Cards
• 7 Player Mats
• 7 Place Cards (1-7)
• Instruction Manual