city placement

as i continue to play civilization iv, i am learning more and more about some of the basic strategies when it comes to producing an empire that can stand the test of time. one of these strategies that has proved itself to be extremely important, is that of premeditated city placement. whether it is to provide your empire with protection, or to fully utilize the available resources, i am convinced that it is imperative to make intelligent decisions while placing a city.

in terms of resources, you must first understand where different resources are located. obviously, it is beneficial to have a city on the coast, because a fishing industry is an excellent source of food for your empire. another example is having a city near forests is important as well so that you can enjoy the benefits of excess lumber.

aside from building cities near resources, i feel that it is also a good move to build your city so that you are protected by the natural surroundings. even if this means searching for the right spot for your capital when the game begins, it might prove to be worth the extra time. in my current campaign, my capital is placed right in the middle of a peninsula, restricting the number of ways that the city can be attacked. if you can take advantage of the natural boarders, you can base your military defense off of that, and be stronger than you ever would be if you were defending yourself in the open.

to me, it seems like this theory has held up throughout history. until the spanish came to the new world, the mayans were tucked away in the mountains of peru. they were protected from other peoples by the mountains, and remained hidden from anyone and everyone.

military advancements

during my campaigns in civilization iv, i still employ my strategy of outward territorial expansion. however, i have begun to notice that expansion becomes extremely easy with technological improvements within my military/artillery sector. sure, i settle my own cities and grow outward from my capital city, but in terms of conquering other empires, advancing your military technology is a must. in my current campaign, i have chosen to play as the greeks. as early as the 3rd or 4th centuries, i began to develop modern firepower. this was extremely beneficial because when i looked to conquer my russian spanish neighbors, it was all too easy. in less than 80 years (in game time), i conquered all 8 of spain's cities. this obviously helped me obtain many more resources essential for future growth.

in the national geographic documentary about jared diamond's book 'guns germs and steel,' there is a section about the spanish military conquest of the mayan empire. the spanish were against horrific odds in terms of man-power, but because of their superior military technology, they were able to conquer the great mayan empire without breaking a sweat.

Along with having superior military, having the technology of flight is essential as well. in my game, i started to only research military areas, and eventually got to the airplanes and airports. this is obviously another huge advantage in moving troops and firepower.

promoting your troops is also extremely beneficial. they gain firepower, and defense strength through this. so when you attack a city (or are being attacked yourself), you can withstand more of a beating, and in turn, dish out more of a beating as well. i'm getting the impression that a respectable path to creating a great empire is to stay ahead of everyone else in terms of military technology.