This paper explores how Civilization VI: Babylon Pack perpetuates colonial and Orientalist narratives originally rooted in nineteenth-century Western archaeology of West Asia. It argues that early excavations, such as those conducted by Austen Henry Layard at Nineveh, produced archaeological finds as well as visual and textual frame-works of hierarchy and ‘civilising’ missions. These frameworks continue to shape popular representations of ancient West Asia. Through a detailed examination of Civilization VI and its Babylon expansion, the paper illustrates how the game’s visual design, its portrayal of Hammurabi, and its core mechanics, such as ‘colonialism’ and ‘natural history’, perpetuate these ideological legacies. The immersive and interactive nature of video games intensifies their cultural impact, embedding inherited stereotypes in contemporary perceptions of the past. However, their popular-ity also provides opportunities for critical engagement. By recognising the colonial genealogies of archaeological imagery, scholars can gain a better understanding of, and challenge, how digital media continues to ‘play’ with the power structures of the past.
Sebastian Hageneuer (Wed,) studied this question.