THE 21 WONDERS OF SID MEIER'S WORLD by Elliott
  
  
     This section provides an alphabetical (as opposed to a
  chronological) reference to "wonder working" which should
  allow one to check the blueprint (prerequisites, costs and
  benefits) against the needs of one's specific situation. It
  is designed for quick reference with a few strategic
  considerations for game play provided.
 
  Apollo Program
  Epoch: Industrial Age
  Cost: 600
  Requires: Space Flight
  Made Obsolete by: Nothing
  Function: All civilizations with the technology may begin
  building Space Arks. 
  Notes: The builder of this wonder gets the special benefit
  of seeing every city in the as-yet-unexplored world. 
 
  J.S. Bach's Cathedral
  Epoch: Middle Ages
  Cost: 400
  Requires: Religion
  Made Obsolete by: Nothing
  Function: Mollify 2 unhappy people in every city on
  continent.
  Notes: J.S. Bach's effects are continent wide and should be
  built on the most populated land mass. It is particularly
  useful at higher difficulty levels, and when representative
  governments send troops off to war. This is a key wonder.
  Don't miss it.
  
  The Colossus of Rhodes
  Epoch: Antiquity
  Cost: 200
  Requires: Bronze Working
  Made Obsolete by: Electricity
  Function: One additional arrow of trade is created in every
  City Map square which already generates an arrow.
  Notes: Wonders don't come cheaper that this. Combine the
  Colossus and a representative government and one can watch
  the coins pour into the coffers. Electricity is far enough
  away to make the Colossus a good investment if built early
  on.
  
  Copernicus' Observatory
  Epoch: Middle Ages
  Cost: 300
  Required: Astronomy
  Made Obsolete by: Automobile
  Function: Doubles the light bulb production in the city
  after all adjustments for Libraries, Universities, and
  Einsteins.
  Notes: One of the less expensive medieval wonders,
  Copernicus' Observatory is also one of the quickest to
  become obsolete because of the desirability of the
  Automobile advance. For smaller empires or those with a
  single trading city, this wonder can reap considerable
  rewards.
 
  Cure for Cancer
  Epoch: Industrial Age
  Cost: 600
  Requires: Genetic Engineering
  Made Obsolete by: Nothing
  Function: Creates 1 happy citizen in every city.
  Notes: This wonder can usually be put off until one has got
  the game locked up and is cruising toward home (or Alpha
  Centauri). Its modest affects do not warrant expediency.
 
  Darwin's Voyage
  Epoch: Middle Ages
  Cost: 300
  Requires: Railroad
  Made Obsolete by: Nothing
  Function: Immediately gives the player the current advance
  he is working on, plus one other.
  Notes: It often works out such that the player gets the
  Darwin's Voyage wonder in the same turn he would have gotten
  the advance he is working on. To avoid wasting effort, turn
  light bulb product down a couple turns before getting this
  wonder.
  
  The Great Library
  Epoch: Antiquity
  Cost: 300
  Requires: Literacy
  Made Obsolete by: University
  Function: Owner receives any technology that any two other
  civilizations have acquired.
  Notes: The higher the difficulty level one plays at and the
  more isolated one's starting position, the greater the need
  for the Library becomes. If safely ahead in the technology
  race, one can skip this wonder.
  
  The Great Wall
  Epoch: Antiquity
  Cost: 300
  Requires: Masonry
  Made Obsolete by: Gunpowder
  Function: In a parley situation, other leaders always offer
  a peace treaty.
  Notes: The more enemies on one's borders (especially the
  Zulus and the Mongols!), the more useful the Great Wall
  becomes. Gunpowder often comes quickly however, making its
  usefulness short lived.
  
  The Hanging Gardens
  Epoch: Antiquity
  Cost: 300
  Requires: Pottery
  Made Obsolete by: Invention
  Function: One happy citizen in all of the owner's cities.
  Notes: The greater the difficulty level, the greater the
  need for the Gardens. Invention comes quickly though at
  higher levels, making the Gardens one of the 1st to sink
  into obsolescence.
  
  Hoover Dam
  Epoch: Industrial
  Cost: 600
  Requires: Electronics
  Made Obsolete by: Nothing
  Function: The Hoover Dam is equivalent to having a Hydro
  Plant in every city on the continent, increasing production
  and reducing pollution.
  Notes: The number 2 "must have" wonder, especially if one is
  situated on a large chunk of land.
 
  Isaac Newton's College
  Epoch: Middle Ages
  Cost: 400
  Requires: Theory of Gravity
  Made Obsolete by: Nuclear Fission
  Function: Increase light bulb production of all Libraries
  and Universities from 50% each to 83% each (for a total of
  166% when both exist).
  Notes: This snazzy little number is perfect for the empire
  with many cities, producing many light bulbs. The broad
  increase in light bulb production lasts for quite a while
  although eventually what goes up must come down.
  
  The Lighthouse
  Epoch: Antiquity
  Cost: 200
  Requires: Map Making
  Made Obsolete by: Magnetism
  Function: All ships given 1 extra movement point per turn.
  Notes: The Lighthouse is one of the two cheapest wonders and
  expires rather painlessly with Magnetism and its Frigates.
  It can greatly aid the player initially stuck on a small
  island.
  
  Magellan's Expedition
  Epoch: Middle Ages
  Cost: 400
  Requires: Navigation
  Made Obsolete by: Nothing
  Function: Increases ship movement rates by one point per
  turn.
  Notes: One of the 2 medieval wonders that never become
  obsolete, Magellan's Expedition can be very useful
  (particularly on a world with a small land mass) in
  establishing a permanent naval tradition. If sea control
  looks like it might be an issue, set sails for the
  Expedition.
  
  Manhattan Project
  Epoch: Industrial
  Cost: 600
  Requires: Nuclear Fission
  Made Obsolete by: Nothing
  Function: Allows all civilizations with Rocketry to build
  Nuclear units.
  Notes: Someone is going to build the Project and open the
  nuclear can of worms -- and everyone will benefit or suffer
  equally (except for the 20 Civilization points to the
  builder). All things considered, one should spend the 600
  resource units in something more permanently useful to one's
  civilization.
  
  Michaelangelo's Chapel
  Epoch: Middle Ages
  Cost: 300
  Requires: Religion
  Made Obsolete by: Communism
  Function: Cathedral improvement effect increase by 50%,
  making 6 unhappy citizens content in the city.
  Notes: While one of the less expensive of the medieval
  wonders, the time between the discoveries of Religion and
  Communism can be all too short. If one builds this wonder, a
  massive cathedral construction program must be undertaken to
  enjoy its benefits (which can be very impractical).
  
  The Oracle
  Epoch: Antiquity
  Cost: 300
  Requires: Mysticism
  Made Obsolete by: Religion
  Function: Doubles the effect of Temple improvements.
  Notes: One of the better ancient wonders, the Oracle can
  often avert a player's need for costly Colosseums until
  Cathedrals can be built. Consequently, the Oracle is a good
  sacrifice.
  
  The Pyramids
  Epoch: Antiquity
  Cost: 300
  Requires: Masonry
  Made Obsolete by: Communism
  Function: The owner may change governments without passing
  through Anarchy and may choose from any of the 5 government
  types, even if yet undiscovered.
  Notes: The greatest ancient wonder, the Pyramids have the
  longest life and much to offer. Being able to switch between
  wartime and peacetime governments with the ease of drawing
  and holstering a pistol is an incredible advantage.
  
  SETI Program
  Epoch: Industrial
  Cost: 600
  Requires: Computers
  Made Obsolete by: Nothing
  Function Increases light bulb production in all cities by
  50% after all adjustments for Libraries, Universities, and
  Einsteins.
  Notes: Possession of this wonder might make pursuing
  Futuristic Advances more worthwhile than 'going hedonistic'
  once all advances have been made.

  Shakespeare's Theatre
  Epoch: Middle Ages
  Cost: 400
  Requires: Medicine
  Made Obsolete by: Electronics
  Function: All unhappy citizens in the city stay content.
  Notes: Shakespeare's Theatre creates a unique (though brief)
  opportunity under a representative government to both
  increase the population of a city by creating Elvii there
  and having several "We Love the President" days, and also to
  send a massive army from the city off to war.
  
  United Nations
  Epoch: Industrial
  Cost: 600
  Requires: Communism
  Made Obsolete by: Communism
  Function: Modern equivalent of the Great Wall.
  Notes: It seems other civilizations are less trustworthy in
  modern times, and peace treaties aren't worth the paper
  they're printed on. Sneak attacks abound, but the allure of
  a promised peace still beckons. Even with the United Nations
  wonder, don't count on peace lasting long.
  
  Women's Suffrage
  Epoch: Industrial
  Cost: 600
  Requires: Industrialization
  Made Obsolete by: Nothing
  Function: In a representative government, one less unhappy
  person is generated when an air unit is built or other
  military units leave their home city.
  Notes: By far the best wonder of the world to have. Reducing
  the greatest obstacle to military expansion under the highly
  productive representative governments, this wonder is the

  equivalent of Thor's Hammer or Zeus' Bolt.
        - Elliott