A main destination for the spice trade between Europe and Asia. Traders from India and beyond bring their goods to Cairo, where they're shipped down the Nile River and into the Mediterranean Sea. The city is currently ruled by the Mamluks, former slave soldiers who have established a lasting dynasty.

The birthplace of the Renaissance, a city of wealth and culture. Merchants across Europe do business in Florentine coins, and the works of Florentine authors are so widely-read as to unify the languages of the Italian peninsula. Though the city is nominally a democracy, the true power is held by its influential bankers.

The capital of Japan, where local traditions are mingling with ideas from mainland Asia to produce an influential culture. Though nominally the seat of power in the country, Kyoto exercises little authority over the local lords of Japan. This has allowed powerful military factions to begin maneuvering for control.

The heart of the rising Portuguese Empire. Seafaring technology here has become advanced enough to allow expeditions across the Atlantic Ocean. While explorers chart the islands to the west, soldiers are sent to conquer territory along the coast of Africa. The concept of colonialism has been born.

Capital of the Aztec Empire which currently rules much of Central America. The European powers have yet to discover the New World, and so the Aztecs' dominance is unchallenged. The city itself is a sprawling metropolis ruled by a complex system of warriors and other nobles.