<sod>  
 Along with the larger tasks of exploration, war and diplomacy, the player has to make decisions about which improvements or units to build in each city, where to build new cities, and how to transform the land surrounding the cities for maximum benefit. From time to time the player's towns may be harassed by "[[barbarians]]", units with no specific nationality or leader. These threats disappear later in the game when no unclaimed land is available for the marauding barbarians to settle.
 
Before the game begins, the player chooses which historical civilization to play. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages, which only really affect the very beginning of the game: some civilizations start with the Pottery advancement and some don't, for example. When played by the computer though, certain traits of specific civilizations do come through. The [[Aztecs]] are fiercely expansionistic, for example. Other possible civilizations include the [[United States|Americans]], the [[Mongolia|Mongols]], and the [[Rome|Romans]]. Each civilization is led by a historical figure.
 
 [[Image:Civ2.jpg|right|thumb|240px|Civilization II]]
 
 <eod> <sod> 
 Along with the larger tasks of exploration, war and diplomacy, the player has to make decisions about which improvements or units to build in each city, where to build new cities, and how to transform the land surrounding the cities for maximum benefit. From time to time the player's towns may be harassed by "[[barbarians]]", units with no specific nationality or leader. These threats disappear later in the game when no unclaimed land is available for the marauding barbarians to settle.
 
Before the game begins, the player chooses which historical civilization to play. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages, which only affect the very beginning play in earlier versions, starting with different advancements or more settlers, for example, but has agreater effect on overall gameplay in Civ III, affecting the speed of workers and the unit types available. As opponents, certain traits of specific civilizations do come through. The [[Aztecs]] are fiercely expansionistic, for example. Other possible civilizations include the [[United States|Americans]], the [[Mongolia|Mongols]], and the [[Rome|Romans]]. Each civilization is led by a historical figure.
 
 [[Image:Civ2.jpg|right|thumb|240px|Civilization II]]
 
 <eod>