An interesting turn.
Our soothsayers prepare us for future events and describe a fabulous era termed the Middle Ages, which is upon us.
Our trading partners will shortly also enter that era, which shall be marked by uprisings of barbarians the world over.
We counsel caution to all tribes.
The Romans grow envious of our scientific pre-emininence, and demand Literature from us.
As a direct result of this, we form an alliance with the Chinese to stop this barbaric willfulness.
A number of cultural buildings are aborted, in favour of barracks and swordsmen.
We also slow our research, to better fund catapults and border defences.