Age of Empires / Civilizations
Age of Empires original civilizations and technology-tree choices
Identify the people, factions or battlefield roles used throughout this guide.
Edition covered
Guide scope: the original 1997 game and its twelve civilizations. Pictures show the 2018 Definitive Edition, which also includes Rise of Rome and changes graphics, interface and balance. Expansion civilizations and Return of Rome are outside the original-game tables.
12 characters · one picture per entry · open a picture for full size.
Selected reference directory
Other original civilizations
Quick notes
- Read these as civilizations. Age of Empires has no recruitable campaign-wide party.
- Locate production before choosing an army. The practical difference between two civilizations is often whether an upgrade exists at all.
- Use bonuses with a plan. A bonus is helpful only when your map and resource supply let you use it.
- Separate twelve from sixteen. The original release contains twelve civilizations.
Useful tip
The original release contains twelve civilizations. Carthaginians, Macedonians, Palmyrans and Romans belong to Rise of Rome; the modern Definitive Edition listing includes those expansion civilizations.
References
| Reference | Website |
|---|---|
| Publisher game and edition listing | store.steampowered.com |
| Microsoft edition overview | www.ageofempires.com |
| Original publisher manual | www.bestoldgames.net |