Civilization IV: Civilizations

There are 34 civilizations and 52 leaders total in Civilization IV. Some civilizations have three leaders, others have two, and a few have just one. Unlike Civilization III, in Civ4 the traits are associated with the leaders, not with the civilization. Each leader has two traits. Each trait provides a unique bonus and usually cuts the hammer cost of one or two city improvements by half.

In addition, each civilization has a unique flag and its units will speak in the civilization’s language when clicked (like in RTS games). Every civilization has their own unique unit and unique building, both of which give an additional bonus. To view the specifics about these unique aspects of each civilization, visit the Units and City Improvements pages.

NOTE: Information in this section is correct as of Beyond the Sword v3.17.

The Leader Traits:

Trait Benefit
Aggressive Free Combat I promotion for melee and gunpowder units.
Double production speed of Barracks and Drydock.
Creative +2 culture per city.
Double production speed of Library, Theater, and Colosseum.
Expansive +2 health per city.
Double production speed of Granary and Harbor.
25% faster production of Workers.
Financial +1 commerce on plots with at least 2 commerce.
Industrious Wonder production increased 50 percent.
Double production speed of Forge.
Organized Civic upkeep reduced 50 percent.
Double production speed of Lighthouse, Factory, and Courthouse.
Philosophical Great People birth rate increased 100 percent.
Double production speed of University.
Spiritual No anarchy.
Double production speed of Temples and the Cristo Redentor wonder.
Imperialistic Great General emergence increased 100 percent.
50% faster production of Settlers.
Protective Free Drill I and City Garrison I promotions for archery and gunpowder units.
Double production speed of Walls and Castle.
Charismatic +1 happiness per city.
-25% XP needed for unit promotions.
+1 happiness from Monument and Broadcast Tower.

 

The 34 Civilizations:

Note: Click a leader icon to see the large leader portrait. All information is for the Beyond the Sword expansion pack, version 3.17, except for the "Original Traits" column, which refers to the traits of some leaders in the original game without expansion packs, as some leaders’ traits were changed in Warlords and Beyond the Sword. If there is only one set of traits, either that leader came in one of the expansion packs or has not had their traits modified.

Civilization Unique Unit Unique Building Starting Techs Leader Traits Original Traits Favorite Civic
America
America

Navy SEAL

Mall

Fishing
Agriculture

George Washington
George Washington

Expansive
Charismatic

Financial
Organized

Free Speech

Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt

Industrious
Organized

Mercantilism

Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln

Philosophical
Charismatic

Emancipation

Arabia

Arabs

Camel Archer

Madrassa

Mysticism
The Wheel

Saladin
Saladin

Protective
Spiritual

Philosophical
Spiritual

Theocracy

Aztecs
Aztecs

Jaguar

Sacrificial Altar

Mysticism
Hunting

Montezuma
Montezuma

Aggressive
Spiritual

Police State

Babylon
Babylon

Bowman

Garden

The Wheel
Agriculture

Hammurabi

Hammurabi

Aggressive
Organized

Bureaucracy

Byzantium
Byzantium

Cataphract

Hippodrome

The Wheel
Mysticism

Justinian I
Justinian I

Spiritual
Imperialistic

Theocracy

Carthage
Carthage

Numidian Cavalry

Cothon

Fishing
Mining

Hannibal
Hannibal

Financial
Charismatic

Free Market

Celts
Celts

Gallic Warrior

Dun

Mysticism
Hunting

Boudica
Boudica

Agressive
Charismatic

Universal Suffrage

Brennus
Brennus

Spiritual
Charismatic

Organized Religion

China
China

Cho-Ku-Nu

Pavilion

Agriculture
Mining

Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong

Expansive
Protective

Philosophical
Organized

State Property

Qin Shi Huang
Qin Shi Huang
Industrious
Protective
Industrious
Financial
Bureaucracy
Dutch
Dutch

East Indiaman

Dike

Fishing
Agriculture

Willem van Oranje
Willem van Oranje

Financial
Creative

Free Religion

Egypt
Egypt

War Chariot

Obelisk

Agriculture
The Wheel
Hatshepsut
Hatshepsut
Spiritual
Creative
Organized Religion
Ramesses II
Ramesses II
Spiritual
Industrious
Organized Religion
England
England

Redcoat

Stock Exchange

Fishing
Mining

Victoria

Imperialistic
Financial

Financial
Expansive

Representation

Elizabeth
Elizabeth

Philosophical
Financial

Free Religion

Churchill
Churchill

Charismatic
Protective

Nationhood

Ethiopia
Ethiopia

Oromo Warrior

Stele

Hunting
Mining

Zara Yaqob
Zara Yaqob

Creative
Organized

Theocracy

France
France

Musketeer

Salon

Agriculture
The Wheel

Louis XIV
Louis XIV

Creative
Industrious

Hereditary Rule

Napoleon
Napoleon

Organized
Charismatic

Agressive
Industrious

Representation

De Gaulle
De Gaulle

Industrious
Charismatic

Nationhood

Germany
Germany

Panzer

Assembly Plant

Hunting
Mining

Frederick
Frederick

Philosophical
Organized

Philosophical
Creative

Universal Suffrage

Bismarck
Bismarck

Expansive
Industrious

Nationhood

Greece
Greece

Phalanx

Odeon

Fishing
Hunting

Alexander
Alexander

Aggressive
Philosophical

Vassalage

Pericles
Pericles

Creative
Philosophical

Representation

Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire

Landsknecht

Rathaus

Hunting
Mysticism

Charlemagne
Charlemagne

Protective
Imperialistic

Vassalage

Inca
Inca

Quechua

Terrace

Agriculture
Mysticism

Huayna Capac
Huayna Capac

Financial
Industrious

Agressive
Financial

Hereditary Rule

India
India

Fast Worker

Mausoleum

Mysticism
Mining

Gandhi
Gandhi

Spiritual
Philosophical

Spiritual
Industrious

Universal Suffrage

Asoka
Asoka

Organized
Spiritual

Free Religion

Japan
Japan

Samurai

Shale Plant

Fishing
The Wheel

Tokugawa
Tokugawa

Aggressive
Protective

Aggressive
Organized

Mercantilism

Khmer
Khmer

Ballista Elephant

Baray

Hunting
Mining

Suryavarman II
Suryavarman

Expansive
Creative

Organized Religion

Korea
Korea

Hwacha

Seowon

Mysticism
Mining

Wang Kon
Wang Kon

Financial
Protective

Caste System

Mali
Mali

Skirmisher

Mint

Mining
The Wheel

Mansa Musa
Mansa Musa

Financial
Spiritual

Free Market

Maya
Maya

Holkan

Ball Court

Mysticism
Mining

Pacal II
Pacal II

Financial
Expansive

Hereditary Rule

Mongolia
Mongolia

Keshik

Ger

Hunting
The Wheel

Genghis Khan

Aggressive
Imperialistic

Aggressive
Expansive

Police State

Kublai Khan
Kublai Khan

Aggressive
Creative

Bureaucracy

Native Americans
Native Americans

Dog Soldier

Totem Pole

Fishing
Agriculture

Sitting Bull
Sitting Bull

Philosophical
Protective

Environmentalism

Ottomans
Ottomans

Janissary

Hammam

Agriculture
The Wheel

Mehmed II
Mehmed II

Expansive
Organized

Vassalage

Suleiman
Suleiman

Philosophical
Imperialistic

Hereditary Rule

Persia
Persia

Immortal

Apothecary

Agriculture
Hunting

Cyrus
Cyrus

Imperialistic
Charismatic

Expansive
Creative

Vassalage

Darius I
Darius I

Organized
Financial

Free Religion

Portugal
Portugal

Carrack

Feitoria

Fishing
Mining

Joao II
Joao II

Imperialistic
Expansive

Hereditary Rule

Rome
Rome

Praetorian

Forum

Fishing
Mining

Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar

Imperialistic
Organized

Expansive
Organized

Representation

Augustus Caesar
Augustus Caesar

Industrious
Imperialistic

Representation

Russia
Russia

Cossack

Research Institute

Hunting
Mining

Catherine
Catherine

Imperialistic
Creative

Financial
Creative

Hereditary Rule

Peter
Peter

Expansive
Philosophical

Bureaucracy

Stalin
Stalin

Agressive
Industrious

State Property

Spain
Spain

Conquistador

Citadel

Fishing
Mysticism

Isabella
Isabella

Expansive
Spiritual

Theocracy

Sumeria
Sumeria

Vulture

Ziggurat

Agriculture
The Wheel

Gilgamesh
Gilgamesh

Creative
Protective

Hereditary Rule

Vikings
Vikings

Beserker

Trading Post

Fishing
Hunting

Ragnar
Ragnar

Aggressive
Financial

Hereditary Rule

Zulu
Zulu

Impi

Ikhanda

Agriculture
Hunting

Shaka
Shaka

Agressive
Expansive

Police State

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