RAGE!!!

So today I lost a very dear colony to me in South America. They were strong. They were cultured and they were the hope for the future of a better Roman South America. My hopes and dreams were shattered as Barbarian states came and destroyed the colony. I tried my best to make transatlantic flights and sending of my armies to aid the ailing state. But my efforts were to no avail and I lost dear Caesaugusta. I have never experienced such hate in this game we call Civilization nor such cruelty. From these ashes I have decided to rise and make the world a better place by conquering these weak states that have fostered these barbaric creatures. I will lead them to the right way of living. My far superior technology and empire, though not the largest, far surpasses anything else in that world. And like Alexander the Great, I will sweep across the continent and take over the world! My plan has carefully been devised beginning with all efforts in the major city centers, whose growth has reached a plateau, aimed towards military development. Once my armies have been raised I will first attack the neighboring and weakest empire, the Greek empire lead by none other than Alexander the Great.
Through studying the major empires of history, even present ones, one thing that they all seemed to do wrong was focus on what the other countries and leaders were accomplishing as opposed to what the people needed. I maintained amicable relations with all the empires that I came in contact with. War never arose from our ancient beginnings to our modern ends. Rome was able to gain the trust of the other world leaders, culminating in a Diplomatic Victory. All these nations voted Rome to be the Diplomatic leader of the world. Not only does that give more “unreal” power to this empire, but it also articulates that the other nations are not good enough to be role models for the world. This clearly presents an issue among nations, one I believe could lead to war in my little Utopia. But peace will be restored and equality will return, after I conquer the world.

The Empire

History has always been about the empire. Amassing wealth and gaining total domination over the surrounding areas has defined the greatest cultures in all of history. From the Egyptians to the Mongolians, taking over what you can, when you can has been what has made these daunting empires succeed but also fall.

To fuel an empire you need continual growth. Continual growth usually is found in the form of expanding cities and stronger economic systems. Strong militaries are built up to protect the people on which the empire has been built upon, or the innards of the empire. Keeping up the resources as the empire grows exponentially is what maintains and protects the kingdom. Surplus in resources is what fuels the empire. Colonization and trading is where this surplus usually comes from. For example in the early 1500’s Spain became the strongest empire because of the resources it gained from its colonies in the New World. Slaves cultivated the land so that surplus would feed the ever ravenous machine and people within it. Becoming the most formidable force on the planet, the façade that the top lifestyles are found within the boundaries of that never ending empire is what is presented to the world. This façade is what is first to crumble at the fall of an empire and the festering problems that lay beneath are revealed.

Too much growth becomes the culprit of the fall of an empire. Inflation rises and there are too many people within the domain and not enough surplus to properly feed them all. Economic issues and neglect of the well-being of the empire as a whole and the individual states becomes glaringly apparent when it all falls. After the fall of the Spanish empire it was easy to see that where squander on the colonies and not using them to be self sustaining, caused strife within kingdom causing its infrastructure to fail.

In the game Civilization, keeping the balance of giving each city enough attention individually as well as collectively gets really hard. Everything seems to be happening at once and it becomes blur as to what is going on where. This is where the democratic system succeeds. Allowing every city the option of doing what it believes is best for that particular city’s economy, while maintaining loyalty to the tyrant, has truly helped in becoming the best civilization in the world. By automating the workers and the other city processes it is to their discretion as to what needs to be worked on, as they are the only ones that can truly know what really needs to be done. In current history, this technique has the better lasting power. Empires like the Soviet Union, and the Austro-Hungarian Empires have long disappeared in the face of these kinds of governments and ways of dealing with things. Giving the people a voice allow for them to aid in the developing process and can keep tabs on growth, better than a tyrant can from a palace far away from his subjects. Allowing for natural growth and letting it happen as a decision by the city or province as opposed to a concerted effort by the king has proven to be the best method of building an empire.

My empire started in Rome the great city of which much of our society has derived its beginnings. I chose this starting point because of its central location and its access to the ocean making sea travel and advancement much easier. When it came time to develop any part of the empire I alternated a focus on science, economy, and culture because looking at other successful empires the did not focus on only one aspect of the empire, and if they did it often led to negelct on other parts making it easier for it to crumble from within, starting with the economy. Other empires have been amicable towards our empire and therefore no wars have broken out to destroy our advancements. War also is a catalyst for decline in that all the resources are used for defense or for war like purposes allowing for everything else to fall into disarray.
I have the far superior empire making life so far rather easy. Also with having the most advanced nation by keeping the balance of economy, culture, military and science, our technology is far superior since we have circumnavigated the world and have traded our technology with other surrounding nations. The proximity in which these empires exisit is a large concern because it has forced everyone to advance as quickly as possible and without a regard for the greater populus.
Looking at the game as a reflection of history it is apparent that peaceful nations have been able to develop quitely and produce great amounts advancements. Unfortunately, I am painfully aware that even through great advancements it is necessary for a war to improve further.