- BGG rank
- BGG #3,213
- BGG rating
- 7.3
History of the World
- 3–6 players
- 120–180 min
- Complexity 2.6/5
- 2018
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,965
- BGG rating
- 6.9
A Brief History of the World
2009
Rules assistance for A Brief History of the World
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–6 players
- 90–180 min
- 10+
- Complexity 2.9/5
For 3 players
Rules assistant for A Brief History of the World
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
A Brief History of the World is a board game released in 2009 for 3–6 players, 90–180 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Gary Dicken, Steve Kendall, and Phil Kendall and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Take That, and Set Collection.
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About the game
A Brief History Of The World is just that: a sweeping ride through the history of mankind in the space of just a few hours. The game features fifty of the mightiest Empires ever known, from the dawn of Civilisation through to the Twentieth Century - Egypt, Assyria, Persia, Greece and Imperial Rome, the Huns and Mongols, the Arabs and the Ottoman Turks, the dynasties of China and kingdoms of India, Incas and Aztecs, Portugal and Spain, France, Britain, and Germany. Can you take on the mantle of Alexander or Caesar, Genghis Khan or Napoleon? Can you write your name into the pages of history and lead your Empires to victory? Components include: Giant Map Board 180 plastic playing pieces 130 card counters - 32 Area Values * 5 x Epoch 1 * 2 x Epoch 2 * 6 x Epoch 3 * 4 x Epoch 4 * 4 x Epoch 5 * 11 x Epoch 6 - 30 City/Capitals - 20 Monuments (4 types x 5) - 20 Forts - 18 Bonus tokens (1's, 2's 3's - 6 of each) - 6 Gold Markers (1 in each player colour) - 4 Fleets 42 Empire cards (6 epochs, 7 cards per epoch) 54 Event cards (6 epochs, 7 cards per epoch, plus 12 initial events) 6 Epoch maps 6 Six sided dice 4 Plastic Stands 1 Epoch chart 1 Array This is a significantly revised version of History of the World. Re-implements: History of the World
Categories
Mechanics
- Hand Management
- Take That
- Set Collection
- Income
- Ownership
- Area Movement
- Dice Rolling
- Area Majority / Influence
- Variable Set-up
- End Game Bonuses
- Simulation
- Turn Order: Stat-Based
- Hidden Victory Points
- Closed Drafting
- Critical Hits and Failures
- Once-Per-Game Abilities
- Zone of Control
- Catch the Leader
- Victory Points as a Resource
- Stat Check Resolution
- Turn Order: Role Order
Designers
Publishers
- Ragnar Brothers
- Spiral Galaxy Games
Questions and answers
A Brief History of the World supports 3–6 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for A Brief History of the World is 90–180 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists A Brief History of the World for ages 10 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
A Brief History of the World has a complexity rating of 2.9 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
A Brief History of the World belongs to these categories: Wargame, Napoleonic, and Medieval. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Take That, and Set Collection. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of A Brief History of the World are: Gary Dicken, Steve Kendall, and Phil Kendall. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists A Brief History of the World as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.