The Question - Open Borders

[mayonaise]

in the few games I play I got the general impression you could go either way with this. Closed borders will typically lead to a more warlike world, while open borders will typically lead to a more peaceful one... at least in your little corner of it.

 

[fightcancer]

Another reason to have open borders, you can't trade resources without them.

I'm 95% sure I've traded resources (rice for furs) without open borders. I wonder if it depends on the difficulty settings. I was playing at Noble.

 

[fightcancer]

If you do Open Borders with everyone early, everyone seems to like you and continue liking you. I would never get attacked.

Agreed, based on my one game at Noble diff.

 

[azurefx]

You don't need open borders to trade resources, but for profitable international trade routes from your cities. Fewer people you have open borders with, fewer people your cities can trade with, and the less gold you get.