Culture

Culture selection screen in the Ancient Era

Cultures are an important part of Humankind. Once the player reaches the Ancient Era, they can choose between different historical cultures. Over the course of the game the player will be able to combine multiple cultures by adopting a new culture or transcending a previous culture each Era to form their civilization. In total Humankind has 60 different historical cultures.

Each culture has a gameplay orientation, Emblematic Unit, Emblematic District and Legacy Trait which set them apart from other cultures. Different cultures will also have different architectural styles on the campaign map.

Culture Affinities

Each culture has an affinity that grants them a unique gameplay orientation with special effects and actions. When transitioning to a new culture, the old affinity and its effects are lost. The possible affinities are:

• Aesthete: Cultures that focus on Influence and diplomacy.
• Agrarian: Cultures that focus on Food and Population growth.
• Builder: Cultures that focus on Industry and District constructions.
• Expansionist: Cultures that focus on Territory expansions.
• Merchant: Cultures that focus on Money and Trade.
• Militarist: Cultures that focus on Unit and War.
• Scientist: Cultures that focus on Science and Technology.

Emblematic Units and Quarters

Each culture has an Emblematic Unit (known as EU among players) unique to that culture. Emblematic Units can only be built by the culture in question, but remain in play after transition.

Each culture also has an Emblematic Districts (known as ED among players) unique to it. Emblematic Districts can only be built by the culture in the given Era, but last afterwards to continue providing their effects. Emblematic Districts may also be called Emblematic Quarters (known as EQ among players).

Starting Culture

At the beginning of the game, all players will start as the Nomadic Tribe culture. After obtaining 10 Knowledge from curiosities, a choice between three different Legacy Trait options can be made. Upon reaching the Ancient Era, the player may then choose to adopt one of the Cultures available. It is impossible to transcend as a Nomadic Tribe.

Legacy Trait

Each culture has a Legacy Trait (known as LT among players) unique to it, with powerful effects and bonus for that culture.

Every Legacy Trait will stay even after adopting to a new culture. Every Legacy Trait of past cultures will stack across the Eras, therefore creating various combinations of different bonuses.

Adopting or Transcending

When advancing to the next Era, the player has the choice to either adopt a new culture, which grants a new affinity, Emblematic Unit, Emblematic Quarter, and Legacy Trait, or transcend the existing culture, which grants an extra (+10%) Fame for the next Era.

List of Cultures

• List of Cultures, LT, EQ, and EU
• List of Cultures (text only)

Name	Affinity	Era	Legacy Trait (sorted by Yield and Effect)	Emblematic Quarter	Emblematic Unit
Nomadic Tribe	None	Neolithic	Choose one from below +1 per on City or Outpost +1 per on City or Outpost +1 per on City or Outpost	None	Tribe
Assyrians		Ancient	Raid Masters +1 Land Movement Speed on Unit +5 Combat Strength bonus when Ransacking on Army	Dunnu	Assyrian Raiders
Babylonians		Ancient	Brilliant Philosophers +2 Science per researched technologies on Capital	Astronomy House	Ṣäbu Ša Qašti
Egyptians		Ancient	Grand Planners +1 Industry on Tile producing Industry Modify District Industry cost by -10%	Egyptian Pyramid	Markabata
Harappans		Ancient	Fertile Inundations +1 Food on Tile producing Food +1 Food on River	Canal Network	Runner
Hittites		Ancient	Lust for War +1 Combat Strength	Awari	Gigir
Mycenaeans		Ancient	Brutal Upbringing Modify Unit Industry cost by -20% +25 Experience on creating Unit on City or Outpost	Cyclopean Fortress	Promachoi
Nubians		Ancient	Golden Dreams +5 Money on Luxury Resource deposit +5 Money on Strategic Resource deposit	Meroe Pyramids	Ta-Seti Archers
Olmecs		Ancient	Natural Harmony +1 Influence on Territory	Olmec Head	Javelin Throwers
Phoenicians		Ancient	Trading Pioneers +2 Money per Traders on City or Outpost	Haven	Bireme
Zhou		Ancient	Harmonious Thought +2 Stability on District	Confucian School	Zhànche
Achaemenid Persians		Classical	Cyrus' Shadow +2 City Cap +10 Stability on City or Outpost	Satrap Palace	Immortals
Aksumites		Classical	Horn of Plenty +2 Money on Tile producing Money	Great Obelisk	Shotelai
Carthaginians		Classical	Hard Bargainers Modify all Constructibles Buyout cost by -25%.	Cothon	War Elephant
Celts		Classical	Druidic Lore +2 Food per Farmers on City or Outpost	Nemeton	Gaesati
Goths		Classical	Nimble Pillage +10 Combat Strength from ransacking on Unit +2 Influence on Garrison	Tumulus	Gothic Cavalry
Greeks		Classical	Socratic Methods +2 Science per Researchers on City or Outpost	Amphitheatron	Hoplites
Huns		Classical	Formidable Steeds +2 Combat Strength on Cavalry Unit	Ordu	Hunnic Horde
Mauryans		Classical	Guiding Light +1 Influence on Emblematic District -10% on Attach Outpost cost	Stūpa	Saṃnāhya
Maya		Classical	Tireless Spirit +2 Industry per Workers on City or Outpost	K'uh Nah	Noble Javelineers
Romans		Classical	Legion's Finest +1 Unit slot available for each Army -30% Army Upkeep on Army	Triumphal Arch	Praetorian Guards
Aztecs		Medieval	Huitzilopochtli's Legacy +2 Land Movement Speed on Unit Modify Unit Industry cost by -20%	Sacrificial Altar	Jaguar Warriors
Byzantines		Medieval	Master of Whispers +5% Money per Alliance on all Cities	Hippódromos	Varangian Guards
English		Medieval	Serfs' Labor +7 Food per number of attached Territories on City or Outpost	Stronghold	Longbowmen
Franks		Medieval	Crown Lands +10% Influence	Scriptorium	Franci Milites
Ghanaians		Medieval	Life of Luxury +5 Money per Number of accesses to Luxury Resources. +5 Money per Number of accesses to Strategic Resources.	Luxuries Market	Meharists
Khmer		Medieval	Servants of Magnificence +3 Industry on Makers Quarter	Baray	Dhanvī-gaja
Mongols		Medieval	Mounted Mayhem 100% ransack on Army	Orda	Mongol Horde
Norsemen		Medieval	Stormborn +3 Naval Movement Speed on Naval Units +2 Combat Strength on Naval Units	Naust	Langskip
Teutons		Medieval	Spurred by Faith +1 Money per State Religion Follower +1 Science per State Religion Follower	Kaiserdom	Teutonic Knights
Umayyads		Medieval	Learned Friends +5% Science per Alliance on all Cities	Grand Mosque	Haras
Dutch		Early Modern	Stock Wisdom +1 Money per Population on all Cities.	V.O.C Warehouse	Fluyt
Edo Japanese		Early Modern	Shogun's Authority +1 Influence per Population on City or Outpost	Tera	Naginata Samurai
Haudenosaunee		Early Modern	Land of Plenty +1 Food on Exploitation	Three Sisters Plantation	Rotiskenrakehte
Joseon		Early Modern	Hall of Wothies +3 Science on Tile producing Science	Seowon	Geobukseon
Ming		Early Modern	Grand Secretariat -25% cost of enacting Civic -25% cost of revoking Civic +1 Influence on Territory	Grand Teahouse	Rocket Cart
Mughals		Early Modern	Imperial Magnificence +2% Industry per number of Territories in your Sphere of Influence on Capital	Jama Masjid	Gajnal
Ottomans		Early Modern	Supremacy of Fire -50% on Heavy Weapon Industry cost +3 Combat Strength on Heavy Weapon	Sultan Camii	Janissaries
Poles		Early Modern	Deadly Ramparts +10 District Fortification on District +2 Stability on District	Barbican	Winged Hussars
Spanish		Early Modern	Honor and Glory +3 Combat Strength on Units starting their turn in a non-allied Territory	Catedral Gótica	Conquistadores
Venetians		Early Modern	Silver Tongues +1 Money per number of Trade Routes on City or Outpost +2 Money per number of Naval Trade Routes on City or Outpost	Botteghe Di Artisti	Galleass
Austro-Hungarians		Industrial	Emperor's Hand +1 Influence on District +1 Influence on Emblematic District	Opernhaus	Evidenzbureau Agents
British		Industrial	Colonial Riches +10 Money per number of attached Territories on Capital +10 Science per number of attached Territories on Capital	Colonial Office	Redcoats
French		Industrial	Enlightened Thinking +10% Science on all Cities	Exhibition Hall	Cuirassiers
Germans		Industrial	Iron Ordnance +3 Combat Strength on Naval Unit +3 Combat Strength on Air Unit -20% on Unit Industry cost	Coking Works	Uboat
Italians		Industrial	Inspiring Virtuosos +10 Stability on Commons Quarter +1 Influence on Commons Quarter Modify Commons Quarter Industry cost by -50%	Teatro	Alpini
Mexicans		Industrial	Fields of Gold +10% Food on all Cities	Hacienda	Soldaderas
Persians		Industrial	Mighty Works Reduces Shared Project Industry cost by -25% Reduces all Constructibles Industry cost by -25%	Caravanserai	Jazayerchis
Russians		Industrial	Land and Glory +10 experience on creating Unit per number of attached Territories on all Cities +10 War Support increased when capturing a City on Relations	Sobor	Cossacks
Siamese		Industrial	Gilded Orchids +3 Industry per District on all Cities +1 Money generated from on-going Trade on all Cities	Floating Market	Gatling Elephant
Zulu		Industrial	Warrior's Pride +50% Health regeneration on Unit +2 Combat Strength on Units starting their turn in an allied Territory	Warrior's Izindlu	Impi
Americans		Contemporary	American Exceptionalism +10 Influence on Resources being sold +1 Money generated from on-going Trade on City or Outpost	Defense Agency	Lightning
Australians		Contemporary	Dream Weavers +20% Industry on all Cities	Strip Mining Complex	All Terrain PMV
Brazilians		Contemporary	Lungs of the Planet +3 Food on Tile producing Food	Agronomy Lab	Jungle Brigades
Chinese		Contemporary	Silk Railroad +10% Money on all Cities	Congress	Guardians
Egyptians		Contemporary	Valley of Kings +4 Influence on Emblematic District	Archaeological Dig	Free Officers
Indians		Contemporary	Economic Elephant +3 Influence on Territory +10 Money per Number of Territories in your sphere of influence	Ashram	Peacekeepers
Japanese		Contemporary	Blossoming Innovation -20% on all Technology cost when researching	Robotics Lab	Reisen
Soviets		Contemporary	Red Tide -20% on Unit Industry cost +3 Combat Strength on Unit	Arms Factory	Red Army Tank
Swedes		Contemporary	Prize Science +1 Science per District on all Cities +3 Science on Research Quarter	Research Institute	Stealth Corvette
Turks		Contemporary	People's Reforms +1 Food per Population on all Cities	Public School	Stealthy Operative Missile

Name	Affinity	Era	Legacy Trait	Emblematic Quarter	Emblematic Unit
Nomadic Tribe	None	Neolithic	A Tribe's Legacy Makers: Wattle and Daub +1 Industry per Population on City or Outpost Farmers: Plant Lore +1 Food per Population on City or Outpost Storytellers: Astronomy +1 Science per Population on City or Outpost	None	Tribe
Assyrians		Ancient	Raid Masters +1 Land Movement Speed on Unit +5 Combat Strength bonus when Ransacking on Army	Dunnu	Assyrian Raiders
Babylonians		Ancient	Brilliant Philosophers +2 Science per researched technologies on Capital	Astronomy House	Ṣäbu Ša Qašti
Egyptians		Ancient	Grand Planners +1 Industry on District producing Industry Modify District Industry cost by -10%	Egyptian Pyramid	Markabata
Harappans		Ancient	Fertile Inudations +1 Food on Tile producing Food. +1 Food on River	Canal Network	Runner
Hittites		Ancient	Lust for War +1 Combat Strength	Awari	Gigir
Mycenaeans		Ancient	Brutal Upbringing Modify Unit Industry cost by -20% +25% Experience on creating Unit on City or Outpost	Cyclopean Fortress	Promachoi
Nubians		Ancient	Golden Dreams +5 Money on Luxury Resource deposit +5 Money on Strategic Resource deposit	Meroe Pyramids	Ta-Seti Archers
Olmecs		Ancient	Natural Harmony +1 Influence on Territory	Olmec Head	Javelin Throwers
Phoenicians		Ancient	Trading Pioneers +2 Money per Traders on City or Outpost	Haven	Bireme
Zhou		Ancient	Harmonious Thought +2 Stability on District	Confucian School	Zhànche
Achaemenid Persians		Classical	Cyrus' Shadow +2 City Cap +10 Stability on City or Outpost	Satrap Palace	Immortals
Aksumites		Classical	Horn of Plenty +2 Money on Tile producing Money	Great Obelisk	Shotelai
Carthaginians		Classical	Hard Bargainers Modify all Constructibles Buyout cost by -25%.	Cothon	War Elephant
Celts		Classical	Druidic Lore +2 Food per Farmers on City or Outpost	Nemeton	Gaesati
Goths		Classical	Nimble Pillage +10 Combat Strength from ransacking on Unit +2 Influence on Garrison	Tumulus	Gothic Cavalry
Greeks		Classical	Socratic Methods +2 Science per Researchers on City or Outpost	Amphitheatron	Hoplites
Huns		Classical	Formidable Steeds +2 Combat Strength on Cavalry Unit	Ordu	Hunnic Horde
Mauryans		Classical	Guiding Light +1 Influence on Emblematic District -10% on Attach Outpost cost	Stūpa	Saṃnāhya
Maya		Classical	Tireless Spirit +2 Industry per Workers on City or Outpost	K'uh Nah	Noble Javelineers
Romans		Classical	Legion's Finest +1 Unit slot available for each Army - 30% Army Upkeep on Army	Triumphal Arch	Praetorian Guards
Aztecs		Medieval	Huitzilopochtli's Legacy +2 Land Movement Speed on Unit Modify Unit Industry cost by -20%	Sacrificial Altar	Jaguar Warriors
Byzantines		Medieval	Master of Whispers +5% Money per Alliance on all Cities	Hippódromos	Varangian Guards
English		Medieval	Serfs' Labor +7 Food per number of attached Territories on City or Outpost	Stronghold	Longbowmen
Franks		Medieval	Crown Lands +10% Influence	Scriptorium	Franci Milites
Ghanaians		Medieval	Life of Luxury +5 Money per Number of accesses to Luxury Resources. +5 Money per Number of accesses to Strategic Resources.	Luxuries Market	Meharists
Khmer		Medieval	Servants of Magnificence +3 Industry on Makers Quarter	Baray	Dhanvī-gaja
Mongols		Medieval	Mounted Mayhem 100% ransack on Army	Orda	Mongol Horde
Norsemen		Medieval	Stormborn +3 Naval Movement Speed on Naval Units +2 Combat Strength on Naval Units	Naust	Langskip
Teutons		Medieval	Spurred by Faith +1 Money per State Religion Follower +1 Science per State Religion Follower	Kaiserdom	Teutonic Knights
Umayyads		Medieval	Learned Friends +5% Science per Alliance on all Cities	Grand Mosque	Haras
Dutch		Early Modern	Stock Wisdom +1 Money per Population on all Cities.	V.O.C Warehouse	Fluyt
Edo Japanese		Early Modern	Shogun's Authority +1 Influence per Population on City or Outpost	Tera	Naginata Samurai
Haudenosaunee		Early Modern	Land of Plenty +1 Food on Exploitation	Three Sisters Plantation	Rotiskenrakehte
Joseon		Early Modern	Hall of Wothies +3 Science on Tile producing Science	Seowon	Geobukseon
Ming		Early Modern	Grand Secretariat -25% cost of enacting Civic -25% cost of revoking Civic +1 Influence on Territory	Grand Teahouse	Rocket Cart
Mughals		Early Modern	Imperial Magnificence +2% Industry per Number of Territories in your Sphere of Influence on Capital	Jama Masjid	Gajnal
Ottomans		Early Modern	Supremacy of Fire -50% on Heavy Weapon Industry cost +3 Combat Strength on Heavy Weapon	Sultan Camii	Janissaries
Poles		Early Modern	Deadly Ramparts +10 District Fortification on District +2 Stability on District	Barbican	Winged Hussars
Spanish		Early Modern	Honor and Glory +3 Combat Strength on Units starting their turn in a non-allied Territory	Catedral Gótica	Conquistadores
Venetians		Early Modern	Silver Tongues +1 Money per number of Trade Routes on City or Outpost +2 Money per number of Naval Trade Routes on City or Outpost	Botteghe Di Artisti	Galleass
Austro-Hungarians		Industrial	Emperor's Hand +1 Influence on District +1 Influence on Emblematic District	Opernhaus	Evidenzbureau Agents
British		Industrial	Colonial Riches +10 Money per number of attached Territories on Capital +10 Science per number of attached Territories on Capital	Colonial Office	Redcoats
French		Industrial	Enlightened Thinking +10% on all Cities	Exhibition Hall	Cuirassiers
Germans		Industrial	Iron Ordnance +3 Combat Strength on Naval Unit +3 Combat Strength on Air Unit -20% on Unit Industry cost Units	Coking Works	Uboat
Italians		Industrial	Inspiring Virtuosos +10 Stability on Commons Quarter +1 Influence on Commons Quarter Modify Commons Quarter Industry cost by -50%	Teatro	Alpini
Mexicans		Industrial	Fields of Gold +10% Food on all Cities	Hacienda	Soldaderas
Persians		Industrial	Mighty Works Reduces Shared Project Industry cost by -25% Reduces all Constructibles Industry cost by -25%	Caravanserai	Jazayerchis
Russians		Industrial	Land and Glory +10 experience on creating Unit per number of attached Territories on all Cities +10 War Support increased when capturing a City on Relations	Sobor	Cossacks
Siamese		Industrial	Gilded Orchids +3 Industry per District on all Cities +1 Money generated from on-going Trade on all Cities	Floating Market	Gatling Elephant
Zulu		Industrial	Warrior's Pride +50% Health regeneration on Unit +2 Combat Strength on Units starting their turn in an allied Territory	Warrior's Izindlu	Impi
Americans		Contemporary	American Exceptionalism +10 Influence on Resources being sold +1 Money generated from on-going Trade on City or Outpost	Defense Agency	Lightning
Australians		Contemporary	Dream Weavers +20% Industry on all Cities	Strip Mining Complex	All Terrain PMV
Brazilians		Contemporary	Lungs of the Planet +3 Food on Tile producing Food	Agronomy Lab	Jungle Brigades
Chinese		Contemporary	Silk Railroad +10% Money on all Cities	Congress	Guardians
Egyptians		Contemporary	Valley of Kings +4 Influence on Emblematic District	Archaeological Dig	Free Officers
Indians		Contemporary	Economic Elephant +3 Influence on Territory +10 Money per Number of Territories in your sphere of influence	Ashram	Peacekeepers
Japanese		Contemporary	Blossoming Innovation -20% on all Technology cost when researching	Robotics Lab	Reisen
Soviets		Contemporary	Red Tide -20% on Unit Industry cost +3 Combat Strength on Unit	Arms Factory	Red Army Tank
Swedes		Contemporary	Prize Science +1 Science per District on all Cities +3 Science on Research Quarter	Research Institute	Stealth Corvette
Turks		Contemporary	People's Reforms +1 Food per Population on all Cities	Public School	Stealthy Operative Missile