Dark Ages

[Diogenes183]

At the end of every era there is an exit technology that allows a civ to progress to the next era. For example, at the end of the ancient era, there is a tech called Medieval Era. It requires a fixed number of turns (maybe 8?), regardless of your civ strength or science rate (as long as it is at some minimum threshold like say 20%). Initially the tech cannot be traded. Once two (3?) civlizations have researched the tech, other civlizations that have all the prereqs and contact with a civlization that has the tech have a 15%(?) chance of acquiring it for free per turn. Also, the tech can be traded at this point.

Also the civ3 barbarians are lame. They need to be far more powerful, have the ability to capture cities and become a civlization (just like in history).