The gameplay involves a map of the Mediterranean Sea and surrounding lands, where each player controls one civilization chosen from a set of nine: Africa, Asia, Assyria, Babylon, Crete, Egypt, Illyria, Italy (also named Iberia) and Thrace.

Players move population units across the board, taking over territories and competing with their opponents for the most sought after land.

These cities can later be attacked for valuable plunder and to deal a blow to the opponents' chances of winning.

Building cities allows the players' civilization to produce commodities such as iron, salt, wine, bronze and spices.

Hidden within each commodity deck are also one or two calamities, like earthquake, famine, barbarian hordes or civil war, each of which seriously damages the players' population and destroys their cities.

Once the player collects enough commodities, they can spend them to purchase tools, which range from pottery or astronomy to democracy or monotheism.

By collecting useful tools and maintaining as many cities as possible on the board, the players' civilization advances through the ages.