High in the Andes, a biting wind howls through the Incas ruined strongholds. Half a world away, the Pharaohs tombs lie empty. In Italy, the Roman Colosseum decays. Everywhere you see remnants of societies that they thought would endure forever. All are dust. But yours could be different. You could be the one person in history who builds an empire that never falls. That's the challenge of Civilization, the most enthralling "god game" yet developed. You start at the dawn of recorded history - 4,000 B.C. and the founding of the first cities - then nurture your society towards the space age. In the beginning, you'll labor to simply survive while building your settlements, discovering new technologies and fending off barbarians. As your empire prospers, you'll face competing civilizations guided by history's most legendary figures: Alexander the Great, Napoleon, Genghis Khan, Julius Caesar and more. Now you'll test your capacity for expansion and domination, your ability to outwit and outmaneuver those cunning and brilliant leaders.