The biggest change coming to Sid Meier's Civilization 7 is the gameplay mechanic of Ages. Civilization 7 will have three distinct time periods that can be played through, with civilizations being able to evolve and change in multi-Age campaigns or people can enjoy a game with only one Age for a shorter session. Each Age has specific civilizations that can be chosen, with their own unique aspects. The earliest of all Ages is the Antiquity Age, with the least amount of technological advancement and a focus on the formation of the first centers of civilization.

Ages are certainly Civilization 7's biggest change, updating a longstanding structure to the game's core mechanics. This will allow for a more approachable style to the game, and with multi-Age games, players can still continue a long legacy for their empires. At the time of writing, there have been ten civilizations announced for the Antiquity Age. This is the Age when groups of people are just starting to come together to form more urban communities, and leaders are stepping up to form these societies into civilizations for the first time.

10 Aksum People Were Wealthy Merchants Of Africa

Unique Ability: Kingdom Of Natural Wealth

In the real world, the Aksum civilization originally resided on the African coast of the Red Sea, although it can exist anywhere in its new version in Civilization 7. It may not be well known these days, but in ancient times Aksum was one of the four leading powers of the world. Their merchants and trade routes defined the area. Therefore, in the game, Aksum's key attributes are Cultural and Economic, with the unique ability, "Kingdom of Natural Wealth" offering increased gold on resources.

The associated Wonder for Aksum is the Great Stele, which provides gold every time a Wonder is completed in the city, including the Great Stele. Additionally, the Aksum people have a unique civilian unit, the Tankwa. The Tankwa is a special trade ship which cannot be pillaged and increases the range of trade routes.

9 Egypt Is Legendary For Monuments And Riches

Unique Ability: Gifts Of Osiris

The Egyptian civilization is one that is often referred to even now, in modern days. Ancient Egypt and its location on the Nile produced stories, legends, wonders, and more that truly impacted the world to come. In Civ 7, it has the chance to do that all over again. Like Aksum, Egypt's attributes are Cultural and Economic, and it includes the unique ability, "Gifts of Osiris". This ability provides Egypt with increased production on any river that is able to be sailed on.

As is to be expected, Egypt's associated Wonder is the Pyramids. Building the Pyramids increases gold and production on certain river tiles in the city the Pyramids are in. It must be placed on a desert tile adjacent to a navigable river tile.

8 Greece Has The Spartan Military And Intelligence Of Athens

Unique Ability: Demokratia

Civ 7's Greece takes its foundation from the city-states of Hellas which included both the military strength of Sparta and the philosophical and intellectual approach of Athens, with a bit of wealth from Corinth thrown in. Although in the real world they eventually became absorbed into the Roman empire, in this game, Greece can fight proudly against Rome, and perhaps have a chance of changing history.

Due to the Greeks' influence on democracy, the civilization features the unique ability "Demokratia" which provides increased influence on the Palace each round. Their society also leans into attributes of Cultural and Diplomatic strengths, and can get additional culture from their associated Wonder, the Oracle. Honoring its philosophical background, Greece can produce one of many Logios, which are unique scholar units. Among these are Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, and more.

7 Han China Was China's Grandest Ancient Dynasty

Unique Ability: Nine Provinces

The Han were a people of strong military strength with chariots and infantry, as well as scholarly philosophical advancements such as Confucianism. Innovation, science, and diplomatic force reigned in the Han Dynasty, and is portrayed in the game in many ways. With key attributes leaning to Diplomatic and Scientific, Han China unlocks the Great Wall unique improvement early on. The Great Wall adds culture and increased happiness, as well as increased combat strength for units on the tile.

Their ability, "Nine Provinces", helps with early population growth by giving an additional population with a towns first growth event. The civilization also includes a special military unit, Chu-Ko-Nu that is a ranged unit with increased defense, and the Weiyang Palace as an associated Wonder. This Wonder adds a significant amount of influence when built.

6 Khmer Empire Modeled Hindu-Buddhist Heavens

Unique Ability: Ksekam Chamnon

The Khmer Empire, also known as Kamboja, was located near what is now modern-day Cambodia in Southeast Asia. Its civilization harnessed the power of water, using the rivers and floods to their advantage. As such, in Civ 7, Khmer includes a unique ability, "Ksekam Chamnon", which makes urban districts on River tiles be able to still yield the resources from that tile even after it has been built on.

With key attributes of Expansionist and Scientific, the Khmer civilization has an emphasis on improvements and movement speed. Their unique infrastructure features the Baray improvement that adds increased food for all floodplains. Further increasing happiness is the associated Wonder, the Angkor Wat, which adds happiness and increases the limit of specialists in that city.

5 Maurya India Features Cultural Diversity In Its Empire

Unique Ability: Dhamma Lipi

The people of the Maurya civilization were culturally diverse and open-minded, but suffered from a consistent battering of wars at their doorsteps. For this reason, in the game they include the attributes of Militaristic and Scientific in their description. Maurya India includes a unique ability, "Dhamma Lipi", that allows an additional Pantheon to be chosen after Mysticism is unlocked as well.

Helpful for early game, Maurya has a unique Settler unit called the Nagarika which adds happiness on City Halls. As a civilization that can see a lot of battles, which may hurt happiness levels, their associated Wonder is the Sanchi Stupa. Building this Wonder adds happiness in the assigned City and any excess happiness increases culture.

4 Maya Were City-States ed By Common Culture And Alliance

Unique Ability: Skies Of Itzamna

Mayan culture comes from Central American jungle regions, with Maya being an alliance of several city-states who shared common cultures. In this tough jungle landscape, Mayans were able to create incredible structures and even pyramids. In Civ 7, the Maya civilization's special ability is the "Skies of Itzamna" which provides science points for any vegetated tiles that are adjacent to the Palace.

Given that the Mayan culture is heavily influenced by the jungle atmosphere of their region in the real world, in the game they include an associated Wonder that builds off of that. The Mundo Perdido Wonder increases happiness and science on all tropical tiles in the city that the Wonder is built in, but it must also be built on a tropical tile.

3 Mississippians Were Ancestral To Some American Indian Nations

Unique Ability: Goose Societies

The Mississippians are named after the river near where their civilization once stood in the North American continent. These mysterious people left behind no writings, yet had a large society with politics, wars, and more. Scientists do not even know for sure what made this civilization die out, but in the game Civilization 7, Mississippians don't have to fall. Utilizing key attributes of Economic and Expansionist, many of their unique improvements and units are focused on adding gold and food to the society.

Their unique ability, "Goose Societies" provides buildings with food adjacency for resources. Mississippians have an associated Wonder called Monks Mound which adds food and increases the resource capacity for the city it is built in, but it must be built next to a river. Additionally, the civilization has a special military unit called Burning Arrow which is a ranged unit that applies a burning status to tiles after dealing damage to them.

2 Persia Was The Center Of The World

Unique Ability: Hamarana Council

During ancient times, this civilization was known as Xshaca, but now referred to as Persia, the society was once known as the "center of the world". It not only had a strong army but its location offered it access for simpler transportation and speed in getting to other civilizations, which gave them a substantial boon in of wealth. In Civ 7, the kingdom of Persia focuses on attributes of Economic and Militaristic abilities.

Persia's unique ability is the "Hamarana Council". This ability provides increased combat strength to infantry units, helping make their army a strong force. Continuing with the military theme, their exclusive civilian unit is a Hazarapatis, a unique commander. This commander starts with the initiative promotion that lets units move after they separate from their commander.

1 Rome Led The Way In Culture And Military

Unique Ability: Twelve Tables

Naturally, the Roman Empire is one of the first things to come to mind for the ancient world. Rome was the leader in wealth, culture, and military might, and claimed many surrounding civilizations. In the game, Rome has a unique ability called "Twelve Tables" that adds culture on districts in the capital and city centers. Their military might lead them to have combat focused unique units and infrastructure, including a unique commander known as Legatus who can create a settlement after a number of promotions.

Returning from other games in the series, Rome's associated Wonder is the Colosseum. This building must be placed next to a district and will add culture and increase happiness for its city in Civilization 7.