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All Cultures and Eras available in Humankind: Affinities, traits, quarters, units, and more

Learn about every culture and era featured in Humankind, the latest release from Amplitude Studios where you can change the history of humanity.

By Alejandro Sandoval |

First Published August 18, 2021, 23:15

All Cultures and Eras available in Humankind: Affinities, traits, quarters, units, and more

For fans of real-time strategy titles like Civilization, Humankind represents a new experience within the 4X genre where they have the opportunity to rewrite the entire history of humanity, by combining different cultures and using their affinities, to create unique civilizations with no boundaries.

As players advance through the game, they will have the opportunity to choose from 60 cultures from six different eras of human history, with millions of possibilities to make their own empire and conquer the world by ultimately the highest possible international recognition.

That said, let’s take a look at every single culture and era available in Humankind, along with all their distinctive features like resources, traits, units, and more.

Humankind: Neolithic Era

As in the real world, every Humankind game will start from the Neolithic Era, with the only culture available being the Nomadic Tribe. Thanks to their trait “A Tribe's Legacy”, you will be able to choose one of three legacy trait options through an event, after accruing 10 Science Knowledge from curiosities.

Makers: Wattle and Daub - Gives +1 Industry per Population on City or Outpost
Farmers: Plant Lore - Gives +1 Food per Population on City or Outpost
Storytellers: Astronomy - Gives +1 Science per Population on City or Outpost

Its Emblematic Unit are the Nomads, special Units that gather Food through fighting and ransacking in order to multiply. To advance to the next era you will have to get 1 Era Star, which you can get by completing any of these three tasks:

Hunter Star: Hunt a certain number of animals.
Knowledge Star: Get a certain amount of Science by discovering curiosities.
Growth Star: Get a certain population and/or unit count.

Humankind: Ancient Era

The next era within Humankind is the Ancient Era, previously known as Bronze Era. Here is when the real game begins, as you will have the ability to choose between the first of ten cultures of the game.

This era also unlocks the ability to build Cities, research technologies, create a religion, and so on. You will also have access to horses and copper, after researching Domestication and Bronze-working technologies respectively.

In order to advance to the next eras, you will need to obtain 7 out of 21 Era Stars, obtainable by completing generated objectives for your culture. This condition will repeat among the other eras from Humankind.

The cultural wonders of the Ancient Era include the Pyramid of Giza, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Stonehenge, and the Temple of Artemis.

Culture	Affinity	Legacy Trait	Emblematic Quarter / Unit
Assyrians	Expansionist	Raid Masters +1 Land Movement Speed on Unit +5 Combat Strength bonus when Ransacking on Army	Dunnu / Assyrian Raiders
Babylonians	Scientist	Brilliant Philosophers +2 Science per researched technologies on Capital	Astronomy House / Ṣäbu Ša Qašti
Egyptians	Builder	Grand Planners +1 Industry on Tile producing Industry Modify District Industry cost by -10%	Egyptian Pyramid / Markabata
Harappans	Agrarian	Fertile Inundations +1 Food on Tile producing Food. +1 Food on River	Canal Network / Runner
Hittites	Militarist	Lust for War +1 Combat Strength	Awari / Gigir
Mycenaeans	Militarist	Brutal Upbringing Modify Unit Industry cost by -20% +25 Experience on creating Unit on City or Outpost +25 Experience means Mycenean Units can receive +1 veterancy level from start, which will grant a Unit +1 Combat Strength.	Cyclopean Fortress / Promachoi
Nubians	Merchant	Golden Dreams +5 Money on Luxury Resource deposit +5 Money on Strategic Resource deposit	Meroe Pyramids / Ta-Seti Archers
Olmecs	Aesthete	Natural Harmony +1 Influence on Territory	Olmec Head / Javelin Throwers
Phoenicicians	Merchant	Trading Pioneers +2 Money per Traders on City or Outpost	Haven / Bireme
Zhou	Aesthete	Harmonious Thought +2 Stability on District	Confucian School / Zhànche

Humankind: Classical Era

The Classical Era is marked by the large-scale smelting of iron, as well as the rapid growth of trade along with advances in mathematics and science.

In this era, Iron will be available after researching the Standing Army technology.

The cultural wonders of the Classical Era include the Colossus of Rhodes, the Lighthouse of Alexandria, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, and the Statue of Zeus.

Culture	Affinity	Legacy Trait	Emblematic Quarter / Unit
Achaemenid Persians	Expansionist	Cyrus' Shadow +2 City Cap +10 Stability on City or Outpost	Satrap Palace / Immortals
Aksumites	Merchant	Horn of Plenty +2 Money on Tile producing Money	Great Obelisk / Shotelai
Carthaginians	Merchant	Hard Bargainers Modify all Constructibles Buyout cost by -25%.	Cothon / War Elephant
Celts	Agrarian	Druidic Lore +2 Food per Farmers on City or Outpost	Nemeton / Gaesati
Goths	Militarist	Nimble Pillage +10 Combat Strength from ransacking on Unit +2 Influence on Garrison	Tumulus / Gothic Cavalry
Greeks	Scientist	Socratic Methods +2 Science per Researchers on City or Outpost	Amphitheatron / Hoplites
Huns	Militarist	Formidable Steeds +2 Combat Strength on Cavalry Unit (including both Light and Heavy Cavalry)	Ordu / Hunnic Horde
Mauryans	Aesthete	Guiding Light +1 Influence on Emblematic District -10% on Attach Outpost cost	Stūpa / Saṃnāhya
Maya	Builder	Tireless Spirit +2 Industry per Workers on City or Outpost	K'uh Nah / Noble Javelineers
Romans	Expansionist	Legion's Finest +1 Unit slot available for each Army -30% Army Upkeep on Army	Triumphal Arch / Praetorian Guards

Humankind: Medieval Era

The Medieval Era is marked by stunning architectural achievements, chivalry, large-scale migrations, the growth of state religions, feudalism, and an acceleration in military technology.

The cultural wonders of the Medieval Era include Angkor Wat, the Forbidden City, Notre Dame, and Tōdai-Ji.

Culture	Affinity	Legacy Trait	Emblematic Quarter / Unit
Aztecs	Militarist	Huitzilopochtli's Legacy +2 Land Movement Speed on Unit Modify Unit Industry cost by -20%	Sacrificial Altar / Jaguar Warriors
Byzantines	Merchant	Master of Whispers +5% Money per Alliance on all Cities	Hippódromos / Varangian Guards
English	Agrarian	Serfs' Labor +7 Food per number of attached Territories on City or Outpost	Stronghold / Longbowmen
Franks	Aesthete	Crown Lands +10% Influence	Scriptorium / Franci Milites
Ghanaians	Merchant	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	Builder	Servants of Magnificence +3 Industry on Makers Quarter	Baray / Dhanvī-gaja
Mongols	Militarist	Mounted Mayhem 100% ransack on Army	Orda / Mongol Horde
Norsemen	Militarist	Stormborn +3 Naval Movement Speed on Naval Units +2 Combat Strength on Naval Units	Naust / Langskip
Teutons	Expansionist	Spurred by Faith +1 Money per State Religion Follower +1 Science per State Religion Follower	Kaiserdom / Teutonic Knights
Umayyads	Scientist	Learned Friends +5% Science per Alliance on all Cities	Grand Mosque / Haras

Humankind: Early Modern Era

The Early Modern Era is marked by renewed interest in science and technology, increased exploration and international commerce, growth in the fine arts, and the large-scale adoption of gunpowder.

In this era, Saltpetre will be available after researching Gunpowder Warfare technology.

The cultural wonders of the Early Modern Era include Machu Picchu, Saint Basil's Cathedral, the Taj Mahal, and the Topkapi Palace.

Culture	Affinity	Legacy Trait	Emblematic Quarter / Unit
Dutch	Merchant	Stock Wisdom +1 Money per Population on all Cities.	V.O.C Warehouse / Fluyt
Edo Japanese	Aesthete	Shogun's Authority +1 Influence per Population on City or Outpost	Tera / Naginata Samurai
Haudenosaunee	Agrarian	Land of Plenty +1 Food on Exploitation	Three Sisters Plantation / Rotiskenrakehte
Joseon	Scientist	Hall of Wothies +3 Science on Tile producing Science	Seowon / Geobukseon
Ming	Aesthete	Grand Secretariat -25% cost of enacting Civic -25% cost of revoking Civic +1 Influence on Territory	Grand Teahouse / Rocket Cart
Mughals	Builder	Imperial Magnificence +2% Industry per number of Territories in your Sphere of Influence on Capital	Jama Masjid / Gajnal
Ottomans	Expansionist	Supremacy of Fire -50% on Heavy Weapon Industry cost +3 Combat Strength on Heavy Weapon	Sultan Camii / Janissaries
Poles	Militarist	Deadly Ramparts +10 District Fortification on District +2 Stability on District	Barbican / Winged Hussars
Spanish	Expansionist	Honor and Glory +3 Combat Strength on Units starting their turn in a non-allied Territory	Catedral Gótica / Conquistadores
Venetians	Merchant	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

Humankind: Industrial Era

The Industrial Era is marked by the shift from an agrarian to an urban lifestyle, mass production, and the widespread use of coal, steel, and the steam engine.

In this era, you will have access to coal and oil, after researching the Steam Engine and Combustion Engine technologies respectively.

The cultural wonders of the Industrial Era include the Statue of Liberty, Big Ben, and the Eiffel Tower.

Culture	Affinity	Legacy Trait	Emblematic Quarter / Unit
Austro-Hungarians	Aesthete	Emperor's Hand +1 Influence on District +1 Influence on Emblematic District	Opernhaus / Evidenzbureau Agents
British	Expansionist	Colonial Riches +10 Money per number of attached Territories on Capital +10 Science per number of attached Territories on Capital	Colonial Office / Redcoats
French	Scientist	Enlightened Thinking +10% Science on all Cities	Exhibition Hall / War Cuirassiers
Germans	Militarist	Iron Ordnance +3 Combat Strength on Naval Unit +3 Combat Strength on Air Unit -20% on Unit Industry cost	Coking Works / Uboat
Italians	Aesthete	Inspiring Virtuosos +10 Stability on Commons Quarter +1 Influence on Commons Quarter Modify Commons Quarter Industry cost by -50%	Teatro / Alpini
Mexicans	Agrarian	Fields of Gold +10% Food on all Cities	Hacienda / Soldaderas
Persians	Builder	Mighty Works Reduces Shared Project Industry cost by -25% Reduces all Constructibles Industry cost by -25%	Caravanserai / Jazayerchis
Russians	Expansionist	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	Builder	Gilded Orchids +3 Industry per District on all Cities +1 Money generated from on-going Trade on all Cities	Floating Market / Gatling Elephant
Zulu	Militarist	Warrior's Pride +50% Health regeneration on Unit +2 Combat Strength on Units starting their turn in an allied Territory	Warrior's Izindlu / Impi

Humankind: Contemporary Era

The Contemporary Era is the last era within Humankind, marked by sharp growth in the discovery and exploitation of technologies in every facet of life--transportation, communication, agriculture, politics, finance and economics.

In this era, Aluminium and Uranium will be available after researching Aerial Warfare and Uranium Enrichment technologies respectively.

The cultural wonders of the Contemporary Era include the Empire State Building, the Sydney Opera House, and Christ the Redeemer.

Culture	Affinity	Legacy Trait	Emblematic Quarter / Unit
Americans	Expansionist	American Exceptionalism +10 Influence on Resources being sold +1 Money generated from on-going Trade on City or Outpost	Defense Agency / Lightning
Australians	Builder	Dream Weavers +20% Industry on all Cities	Strip Mining Complex / All Terrain PMV
Brazilians	Agrarian	Lungs of the Planet +3 Food on Tile producing Food	Agronomy Lab / Jungle Brigades
Chinese	Merchant	Silk Railroad +10% Money on all Cities	People's Congress / Guardians
Egyptians	Aesthete	Valley of Kings +4 Influence on Emblematic District	Archaeological Dig / Free Officers
Indians	Aesthete	Economic Elephant +3 Influence on Territory +10 Money per Number of Territories in your sphere of influence	Ashram / Peacekeepers
Japanese	Scientist	Blossoming Innovation -20% on all Technology cost when researching	Robotics Lab / Reisen
Soviets	Expansionist	Red Tide -20% on Unit Industry cost +3 Combat Strength on Unit	Arms Factory / Red Army Tank
Swedes	Scientist	Prize Science +1 Science per District on all Cities +3 Science on Research Quarter	Research Institute / Stealth Corvette
Turks	Agrarian	People's Reforms +1 Food per Population on all Cities	Public School / Stealthy Operative Missile

And that’s all we got to share with you about every culture you can choose in Humankind. With all this info, now it’s up to you to make your best strategy and create an all-mighty empire that transcends time.

Read more: Humankind cross-play: Is there cross-platform support?

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Header image via Amplitude Studios.

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