Product Description

Ur... Nineveh... Babylon--the Bible describes these cities as the origin of mankind. Science agrees: in fertile Mesopotamia, between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers, lay the cradle of civilization.

Around 3,000 B.C. the first large settlements developed along the rivers' embankments. Soon, however, farmers began to irrigate large parts of their lands, away from the rivers. An achievement with consequences. Transport problems arose. Without further ado, potters' wheels were turned on their sides and mounted onto rude carts. Much more food could henceforth be carried. This achievement had other repercussions. Traders now wanted to record their growing numbers of barters. This was done by scratching marks into their urns, thereby inventing writing--even before the Egyptians. Furthermore, there now sprang up a multitude of priests and administrators.

One thousand years later, the ancient and wealthy kingdom of Ur had been destroyed. Power was now in the hands of the Babylonian king, Hammurabi. New kingdoms arose. From the north permeated the Hittites. Between the two rivers, power was seized by the people of Assur, the Assyrians. The realm of their king Sargon was only surpassed, many years later, by the empire of Alexander the Great.

Over the centuries, one dynasty succeeded another. Only one thing remained constant: the advance of civilisation that went alongside the struggles for power. It was always exciting--even if not everyone could succeed. The game of Euphrates & Tigris lets you take part in the fascinating development of civilisation.

The aim of each player is to develop the four key spheres of civilisation: settlements, temples, farms and markets. To do this, players will position their leaders, create and extend kingdoms, build monuments and resolve conflicts, thereby gaining victory points in each of the four spheres. The winner is the player who develops civilisation a balanced way, without revealing a sphere of weakness.

Product Information

• Designer(s): Reiner Knizia
• Manufacturer(s): Hans im Gluck
• Artist(s): Doris Matthaus
• Year: 1997
• Players: 2 - 4
• Time: 90 minutes
• Ages: 12 and up
• Weight: 1,850 grams
• Language Requirements: This is an imported item. Game components are language-independent. An English translation of the rules is provided.

Other Resources for Euphrat & Tigris:

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