Age of Empires takes the broad strokes of history—civilisations, technologies, key figures—but it’s really a sandbox designed for fun, not a strict textbook. The tech trees and units echo real developments, but the timelines are compressed, the conflicts are simplified, and many cultural details are tweaked or omitted so the game runs smoothly. So, it’s a loose homage, not an exact replica of the past.

Indeed, the game feels more like a grand narrative you author than a strict chronicle. It lets you taste history while you craft your own legend, keeping the grind interesting.