Tecnological Advances - Historically vs. The Game

Civilization IV is an advanced game that attempts to recreate the effects that certain actions, such as inventing and adopting technologies, will have on a society; however, several differences can be seen in the way that technology affects the game and in the way that technology affected history. Although this may seem trivial to an average person playing the game solely for enjoyment, when using this game as a teaching method it can misinform a player about technology and the effect that it can have on a society. Thus far in the game, cities create and readily adopt technologies which persevere within the society until a better technology is found to replace it; however, historically speaking this adoption and perseverance in all societies is not necessarily the case. Moreover, all societies within the game seem to advance at a relatively equal pace, each adapting helpful technologies and often trading with one another, but historically some societies advanced at a much quicker rate than others.
Civilization IV presents technologies solely as helpful and reliable tools that will be readily adopted and used within all societies that have the option; however, historically many societies have come into contact with technologies, either through their own innovation or through interaction with other societies, and have quickly rejected them. For example, after building cities within the game certain technologies are presented as options for the leader to choose to research and develop, after which the society ultimately adopts them. Although leaders can choose not to research or develop technologies, they will remain without gold, food, or the proper weaponry for fighting against enemies and maintaining their city. Basically, if a person wishes not to lose the game they must develop technologies at a rate almost the same as that of their surrounding societies.
However, historically, and even today, some societies chose not to develop technologies that seem mundane and everyday within modern and developed societies; moreover, some societies developed certain technologies and then chose to abandon them and eliminate further use. For example, archaeologists found the Phaistos disk, an ancient type of printing press and alphabet, at the site of a Minoan palace on the island of Crete but no evidence of it's use could be found at the site. Since archaeologists dated it around 1700 B.C. it would be "by far the earliest printed document in the world." Despite the fact that the Minoans developed this early technology, they decided against use and continued to live a more primitive lifestyle, probably because it was costly and few people within the society were literate. However, if this event had occured within the game, the society would immediately have adopted it and began use to "better" their society. Because of this fact the game does not take into account that technologies are usually "a matter not of individual inventiveness but of the receptivity of whole societies to innovation." Within the game all societies seem receptive to innovation as long as the leader chooses to research and adopt it within the society. On the other hand, the game does show that a lack of technology can lead to loss within battles and war, a fact that has been seen throughout history. Because of this fact, for leaders wishing to maintain their society, especially those on a large continent and surrounded by potential enemies, "war has often been a leading stimulant of technological innovation." Therefore, the game does present some realistic aspects of innovation and technological adoption, but for the most part presents an unrealistic view of the receptivity and use of technology within a society.
In addition, the relatively equal pace at which societies in the game seem to advance presents a historical inconsistency, not showing that some societies advance much slower than others, often by choice. Although many people attempt to explain this historical inconsistency based on location and resources, "on any continent, at any given time, there are innovative societies and also conservative ones." One reason that some societies do not adopt technologies that they come into contact with is that they feel the upkeep of the technology would outweigh any benefits that might come from it. Another reason is that the society is relatively conservative and resistant to chance, preferring to maintain tradition and live as their fathers did. In addition, in order for a society to adopt and advance technology they must be sedentary, so any nomadic society can not become as technologically advanced as sedentary neighbors. Almost all societies within the modern world are sedentary, but some, such as those people living in New Guinea, choose to live simpler lifestyles without modern technologies. Therefore, although the game represents societies as advancing almost equally in the technological realm, historically societies did not do so.
Although many people consider Civilization IV a great game both for enjoyment and educational purposes, it does contain some recognizable historical inconsistencies. Technological innovation within the game must be adopted and maintained in order to prevent take over from enemies, loss of gold and food, and ultimately loss of the game. However, historically many societies chose not to adopt technologies available to them, but instead to lead a more simple lifestyle. Many reasons can be presented for this choice, ranging from cost of upkeep to traditional values and lifestyles, but for whatever reason many societies rejected technologies presented to them by outsiders. Even today, when most of the world can not imagine living without technology, some societies still live only with the simplest tools and lifestyles. For example, the New Guineans have very few tools other than those necessary to maintain their crops and lifestyles. These people chose to live without any modern luxuries or technologies and often do not even use clothes. However, this society remains self-functioning and fully intact, proving that technology is not necessary for survival. Ultimately, Civilization IV represents a portrayal of building and maintaining a society within the world, but fails to be completely historically accurate, especially in regards to technological innovation and adaptation.