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:

TraitBenefit
AggressiveFree 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.
IndustriousWonder production increased 50 percent.
Double production speed of Forge.
OrganizedCivic upkeep reduced 50 percent.
Double production speed of Lighthouse, Factory, and Courthouse.
PhilosophicalGreat People birth rate increased 100 percent.
Double production speed of University.
SpiritualNo anarchy.
Double production speed of Temples and the Cristo Redentor wonder.
ImperialisticGreat General emergence increased 100 percent.
50% faster production of Settlers.
ProtectiveFree 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.

CivilizationUnique UnitUnique BuildingStarting TechsLeaderTraitsOriginal TraitsFavorite Civic
America
America
Navy SEALMallFishing
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 ArcherMadrassaMysticism
The Wheel
Saladin
Saladin
Protective
Spiritual
Philosophical
Spiritual
Theocracy
Aztecs
Aztecs
JaguarSacrificial AltarMysticism
Hunting
Montezuma
Montezuma
Aggressive
Spiritual
Police State
Babylon
Babylon
BowmanGardenThe Wheel
Agriculture
HammurabiHammurabiAggressive
Organized
Bureaucracy
Byzantium
Byzantium
CataphractHippodromeThe Wheel
Mysticism
Justinian I
Justinian I
Spiritual
Imperialistic
Theocracy
Carthage
Carthage
Numidian CavalryCothonFishing
Mining
Hannibal
Hannibal
Financial
Charismatic
Free Market
Celts
Celts
Gallic WarriorDunMysticism
Hunting
Boudica
Boudica
Agressive
Charismatic
Universal Suffrage
Brennus
Brennus
Spiritual
Charismatic
Organized Religion
China
China
Cho-Ku-NuPavilionAgriculture
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 IndiamanDikeFishing
Agriculture
Willem van Oranje
Willem van Oranje
Financial
Creative
Free Religion
Egypt
Egypt
War ChariotObeliskAgriculture
The Wheel
Hatshepsut
Hatshepsut
Spiritual
Creative
Organized Religion
Ramesses II
Ramesses II
Spiritual
Industrious
Organized Religion
England
England
RedcoatStock ExchangeFishing
Mining
Victoria
Imperialistic
Financial
Financial
Expansive
Representation
Elizabeth
Elizabeth
Philosophical
Financial
Free Religion
Churchill
Churchill
Charismatic
Protective
Nationhood
Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Oromo WarriorSteleHunting
Mining
Zara Yaqob
Zara Yaqob
Creative
Organized
Theocracy
France
France
MusketeerSalonAgriculture
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
PanzerAssembly PlantHunting
Mining
Frederick
Frederick
Philosophical
Organized
Philosophical
Creative
Universal Suffrage
Bismarck
Bismarck
Expansive
Industrious
Nationhood
Greece
Greece
PhalanxOdeonFishing
Hunting
Alexander
Alexander
Aggressive
Philosophical
Vassalage
Pericles
Pericles
Creative
Philosophical
Representation
Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
LandsknechtRathausHunting
Mysticism
Charlemagne
Charlemagne
Protective
Imperialistic
Vassalage
Inca
Inca
QuechuaTerraceAgriculture
Mysticism
Huayna Capac
Huayna Capac
Financial
Industrious
Agressive
Financial
Hereditary Rule
India
India
Fast WorkerMausoleumMysticism
Mining
Gandhi
Gandhi
Spiritual
Philosophical
Spiritual
Industrious
Universal Suffrage
Asoka
Asoka
Organized
Spiritual
Free Religion
Japan
Japan
SamuraiShale PlantFishing
The Wheel
Tokugawa
Tokugawa
Aggressive
Protective
Aggressive
Organized
Mercantilism
Khmer
Khmer
Ballista ElephantBarayHunting
Mining
Suryavarman II
Suryavarman
Expansive
Creative
Organized Religion
Korea
Korea
HwachaSeowonMysticism
Mining
Wang Kon
Wang Kon
Financial
Protective
Caste System
Mali
Mali
SkirmisherMintMining
The Wheel
Mansa Musa
Mansa Musa
Financial
Spiritual
Free Market
Maya
Maya
HolkanBall CourtMysticism
Mining
Pacal II
Pacal II
Financial
Expansive
Hereditary Rule
Mongolia
Mongolia
KeshikGerHunting
The Wheel
Genghis Khan
Aggressive
Imperialistic
Aggressive
Expansive
Police State
Kublai Khan
Kublai Khan
Aggressive
Creative
Bureaucracy
Native Americans
Native Americans
Dog SoldierTotem PoleFishing
Agriculture
Sitting Bull
Sitting Bull
Philosophical
Protective
Environmentalism
Ottomans
Ottomans
JanissaryHammamAgriculture
The Wheel
Mehmed II
Mehmed II
Expansive
Organized
Vassalage
Suleiman
Suleiman
Philosophical
Imperialistic
Hereditary Rule
Persia
Persia
ImmortalApothecaryAgriculture
Hunting
Cyrus
Cyrus
Imperialistic
Charismatic
Expansive
Creative
Vassalage
Darius I
Darius I
Organized
Financial
Free Religion
Portugal
Portugal
CarrackFeitoriaFishing
Mining
Joao II
Joao II
Imperialistic
Expansive
Hereditary Rule
Rome
Rome
PraetorianForumFishing
Mining
Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar
Imperialistic
Organized
Expansive
Organized
Representation
Augustus Caesar
Augustus Caesar
Industrious
Imperialistic
Representation
Russia
Russia
CossackResearch InstituteHunting
Mining
Catherine
Catherine
Imperialistic
Creative
Financial
Creative
Hereditary Rule
Peter
Peter
Expansive
Philosophical
Bureaucracy
Stalin
Stalin
Agressive
Industrious
State Property
Spain
Spain
ConquistadorCitadelFishing
Mysticism
Isabella
Isabella
Expansive
Spiritual
Theocracy
Sumeria
Sumeria
VultureZigguratAgriculture
The Wheel
Gilgamesh
Gilgamesh
Creative
Protective
Hereditary Rule
Vikings
Vikings
BeserkerTrading PostFishing
Hunting
Ragnar
Ragnar
Aggressive
Financial
Hereditary Rule
Zulu
Zulu
ImpiIkhandaAgriculture
Hunting
Shaka
Shaka
Agressive
Expansive
Police State

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