Advances Civ1

Advances represent the progress of civilization. Advances allow for new Units, Government-types, City Improvements and Wonders of the World.

There are 67 Advances in MicroProse's TBS Game of 1991, Sid Meier's Civilization.

Most Advances have prerequisites and also facilitate or unlock other Advances.

Advances are acquired through scientific and other intellectual research aka discoveries. The rate at which Advances are discovered is governed by Science Rate, which can be adjusted in Game: Tax Rate and Luxuries Rate menus.

Later, you can also allocate Specialists to research, aka "Einsteins." A Specialist is a citizen that is not working on a square of the city catchment.

Advances can also be acquired immediately through diplomatic exchanges with other civs, subjugation of rival civ cities, and by encountering Minor Tribes that are represented by "hut" icons on the playing field (random).

List of Government Advances

Civ1 government-types come under Advances, they are not a separate category. Regardless of progression, there is no reason not to switch from Despotism (the default) to Monarchy in the early game. Government choices afterwards are dependent on playstyle.