You could win by conquering your enemies, but it was awfully unlikely, the game being designed as an exercise in trade, diplomacy, and strategy rather than conquest. The game attracted a major following in the board gaming world. Players take the role of the leader of one of several competing civilizations, including the Iberians, Africans, Egyptians, Babylonians, etc. The goal of the game is to make discoveries and civilization advances and thereby collect a certain number of civilization points. Each civilization requires a different number of points based on the geographic and other limitations of the civilization's starting position and neighbors.
Larger civilizations play first.
This tends to balance things militarily, as the advantage of numbers is counter balanced by the ability to see what your enemy has done before you move your units. Prolonged conflicts also seriously impede a players ability to construct and hold cities. You play the game on a map of the Mediterranean region, and it is a treat to look at. The graphics and artwork are excellent as is typical of an Avalon Hill product. Avalon Hill also has the best game manuals in the business.