Whenever people discuss which Asian civilizations should be added to Age of Empires III, the first answer from most people is usually:
Persia.
This answer is absolutely justified. Persia deserves its own civilization slot and should be treated on the same level as China, Japan, and India. During the 16th to 19th centuries, Persia remained one of the central powers of Asia. It competed with the Ottoman Empire, the Russian Empire, and the Mughal Empire, making it one of the most important geopolitical forces in Western Asia.
However, when people discuss the second Asian civilization that should be added, I often see an answer that surprises me:
Korea?!
As an Asian with a deep interest in Asian history from the 16th to the 19th centuries, I believe it is necessary to speak up for those Asian powers that have been overlooked for a long time.
Modern cultural influence is important, but it cannot rewrite history. Today, Korean culture has enormous global popularity. Korean films, music, television, and popular culture have introduced Korea to audiences around the world. However, that does not mean the Joseon Dynasty was one of the most influential political or military powers in Asia during the early modern period.
If the goal of Age of Empires III is to represent the civilizations that truly shaped the world between the 16th and 19th centuries, then civilization choices should be based on historical influence, military capability, and geopolitical importance — not on 21st-century cultural popularity.
So which Asian powers deserve more attention?
Persia: The enduring imperial power of Western Asia
From the Safavid dynasty to the early Qajar period, Persia remained a major force in Asian politics.
For centuries, Persia stood at the center of competition between the Ottoman Empire, Russia, and various Central Asian powers. It possessed a strong state tradition, distinctive military institutions, and enormous cultural influence.
Persia is not simply another Asian civilization that could be added to the game. It is one of the great imperial traditions of world history and deserves the same recognition given to China, Japan, and India.
Burma: One of the strongest military powers in mainland Southeast Asia
If we ask which Southeast Asian state possessed the greatest military expansion capabilities during this period, Burma cannot be ignored.
Under the Taungoo Dynasty, Burma built one of the largest states in mainland Southeast Asia and repeatedly defeated Siam, becoming the dominant military power of the region.
Later, the Konbaung Dynasty continued this tradition, fighting wars against Qing China and eventually confronting the British Empire during the Anglo-Burmese Wars.
Burma was not a peripheral kingdom. It was a regional power capable of reshaping the political order of mainland Southeast Asia.
Siam: A kingdom that survived through military strength and diplomacy
Siam was another major power in early modern Southeast Asia.
Caught between powerful neighbors such as Burma and Vietnam, Siam successfully maintained its independence through a combination of military tradition and sophisticated diplomacy.
During the Bangkok period, Siam became one of the few Asian states able to preserve its sovereignty during the age of European colonial expansion.
The Durrani Empire (Afghanistan): A short-lived but powerful Asian empire
Afghanistan is often underestimated from a modern perspective, but the Durrani Empire of the 18th century was a major Asian power.
At its height, it controlled Afghanistan, much of modern Pakistan, and large parts of northwestern India. It defeated the declining Mughal Empire and challenged the rising Maratha Confederacy for influence in northern India.
The Durrani Empire was not a minor regional state. It was a power capable of changing the balance of power in South Asia.
Vietnam: The empire that bowed to the north but ruled as an emperor in the south
Vietnam is one of the most underestimated civilizations in Asian history.
Like Joseon Korea, Vietnamese at early mordern age operated within the Chinese tributary system and diplomatically acknowledged the authority of Ming and Qing emperors.
However, Vietnam followed a very different strategic path:
It submitted to the north, but ruled as an emperor in the south.
Vietnamese rulers recognized China’s superior position in diplomatic rituals, but they considered themselves emperors within their own realm and pursued territorial expansion toward the south.
From the Later Lê Dynasty to the Tây Sơn Dynasty and the Nguyễn Dynasty, Vietnam expanded through centuries of southward expansion, gradually absorbing Champa and extending its influence deep into mainland Southeast Asia.
Compared with Joseon Korea, Vietnam had a much more expansionist foreign policy and a much greater regional impact.
The Sikh Empire: The last major obstacle to British expansion in northern India
Although the Sikh Empire existed for a relatively short period, it was one of the most impressive military states in 19th-century Asia.
It developed one of the most modern armies in Asia at the time and became the final major obstacle preventing British domination of northern India.
Any discussion of Asian military powers in the 18th and 19th centuries should include the Sikh Empire.
Oman: The maritime empire of the Indian Ocean
Oman is another Asian power that is often overlooked.
During the 17th to 19th centuries, Oman built a maritime empire stretching from the Arabian Peninsula to the East African coast.
It controlled important Indian Ocean trade routes and possessed a powerful navy, making it one of the major maritime powers of the region.
So why is Joseon Korea always mentioned first?
Joseon Korea was a stable and well-organized state with a sophisticated bureaucracy and important cultural achievements.
However, if the question is:
“Which Asian civilizations had the greatest regional influence, military projection, and geopolitical importance between the 16th and 19th centuries?”
Then Joseon Korea should not automatically be placed ahead of Persia, Burma, Siam, Afghanistan, Vietnam, or other major powers.
During the Imjin War (1592–1598), Joseon was nearly destroyed by Japan’s invasion and survived largely because of massive military intervention from Ming China.
Afterwards, Joseon remained within the China-centered East Asian order, focusing primarily on maintaining internal stability and defending its borders rather than projecting power beyond the Korean Peninsula.
In the late 19th century, Japan first forced Qing China to recognize Korea as an independent state through the Treaty of Shimonoseki, ending the traditional tributary relationship between Korea and China. Japan then gradually established dominance over the Korean Peninsula.
Therefore, if Age of Empires III aims to represent the most historically significant Asian powers of the era, Korea would arguably be better represented as a minor faction, trading post civilization, or regional influence rather than taking priority over larger early modern Asian powers.
Age of Empires III should represent history, not modern popularity
Civilization choices should not be determined by which countries have the most popular movies, music, or global cultural influence today.
If we select civilizations based only on modern popularity, many powers that genuinely shaped Asian history will be forgotten.
Persia, Burma, Siam, the Durrani Empire, Vietnam, the Sikh Empire, and Oman may not dominate today’s global popular culture, but during the 16th to 19th centuries they possessed stronger military capabilities, wider geopolitical influence, and greater historical importance than many people realize.
Asian history should not only be represented by the countries that are most familiar today.
The civilizations that once shaped the Asian world also deserve their place in Age of Empires III.
Im just saying that western pop history is mostly unaware of vietnams, burmas, afghanistans etc. past and korea has an advantage, because it has already established itself in the western public imagination. Looking at a map of the burmese empire is very abstract, but seeing a pop culture/history reference about kimchi or taekwondo is smth most people here can work with. I guess its the general problem with aoe3’s asian civs, they are so stereotypical because western education is completely blind towards any asian history outside colonialism and our “knowledge” then resorts to popculture.