Summary
Civilization 6offers a multitude of historical elements and real life figures for players to emulate and learn from. This has become a hallmark of the series, and one that fans have pointed to as a particular high point in their experience, yetCivilization 6is responsible for spreading a bit of misinformation about one of history’s greatest minds.
AcrosseveryCivilizationgame, the series has allowed players to build their own version of some of the world’s best known civilizations. By allowing them to play as one of several historical leaders and recruit ‘Great Persons’ for help, the player is allowed to play with world history like toys out of their toybox, mixing and matching them as they like. Along with pioneering the city-building genre, the series is known for imbuing world history into the game in a way that players have found informative and fun. But it’s important to remember that these games aren’t exactly a teaching tool. The facts presented might not always hold up to scrutiny.
There are Plenty of Great Da Vinci Quotes, but Civ 6’s Isn’t One of Them
One of the most glaring fallacies presented byCivilization 6is a quote that has been attributed to Leonardo da Vinci. The quote in question is “For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you will long to return.” This quote appears multiple times in the game. It is one of two quotes that players might see when they unlockCivilization 6’s flight technology, but more notably, it is the basis for the game’s main musical theme. The song Sogno di Volare plays on the main menu, and is attributed as being written by Chiara Cortez and Leonardo da Vinci. Cortez heard the quote in question and based the lyrics of the song on that quote.
Cortez shouldn’t be blamed for misattributing this quote though. As it turns out, the quote has a long history of being credited to da Vinci, even though he never said it. As the story goes, the quote was first credited to da Vinci in a Science Fiction story calledThe Storms of Windhaven. One of the story’s authors, Ben Bova, has said that he heard the quote in a documentary about da Vinci written by John H. Secondari. It seems Bova misunderstood where the quote came from, believing it to have been said by da Vinci, when it was actually commentary written by Secondari. Misunderstandings like this are why theCivilizationseries might be one of thebest games for teaching geography, but not history.
A Change in Perspective of Da Vinci
This quote speaks volumes about how the person who said it feels about flight. It illustrates the power that going up into the air had on them, so it stands to reason that whoever said it has flown. However, there is no concrete evidence that da Vinci ever flew. His sketchbooks show a fascination with the idea, including sketches ofcreatively designed flying machines, but none of them are believed to have lifted him off the ground.
Crediting this quote to da Vinci implies that the power of flight existed in some form during his lifetime, which simply isn’t true. This isn’t a malicious lie to spread, but it is misinformation; how a person views da Vinci can be changed immeasurably by blindly trusting the ideas presented inCivilization 6.
“For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you will long to return.” -Not Leonardo da Vinci
Da Vinci was an incredible man, and deserves to be remembered as one of history’s influential figures. His work was instrumental in art, technology, and philosophy, but not in flight. In the same ways,Civilization 6is an amazing game, and does so many things well, so it should be remembered for the contributions that it has made tostrategy and city-building games. For everything it did right though, its historical accuracy falls flat sometimes. No one can be right 100% of the time, and a small flub is understandable, but this quote is a major part of the game, as evidenced by its use on the menu screen. At the end of the day, though, both da Vinci andCivilization 6should be remembered chiefly for the many things they did well.
Sid Meier’s Civilization 6
WHERE TO PLAY
Civilization VIoffers new ways to engage with your world: cities now physically expand across the map, active research in technology and culture unlocks new potential, and competing leaders will pursue their own agendas based on their historical traits as you race for one of five ways to achieve victory in the game.Expansive empiresSee the marvels of your empire spread across the map like never before. Each district, wonder, and improvement is built on its own hex, allowing you to customize your city to your heart’s content. From the Commercial Hub to the Spaceport, every district provides unique and powerful bonuses. Pick and choose which districts to build to fit your needs! Build better than your opponents, place yourself strategically for your allies, and become the best civilization on Earth.Active ResearchBoost your civilization’s progress through history to unlock powerful bonuses before anyone else! To advance more quickly, use your units to actively explore, develop your environment, and discover new cultures. Research isn’t just limited to science. Explore the Civics tree to unlock powerful new governments and cultural policies Cultivate the civilization that fits your playstyle, or switch it up every time you play!Dynamic diplomacyAs the game progresses, so do your diplomatic relationships. From primitive first interactions where conflict is a fact of life, to late game alliances and negotiations. Carry influence with nearby city states to gain its diplomatic allegiance and earn game-changing city-state bonuses. Enlist spies to gather crucial intel on rival civilizations, steal precious resources, and even topple governments.
