The Game of Everything, Part 1: Making Civilization
If you want this history straight from Sid Meier's mouth, Soren Johnson's excellent podcast "Designer Notes" has a 4 part interview with the man:
<a href="https://www.idlethumbs.net/designernotes/episodes/sid-meier-part-1" rel="nofollow">https://www.idlethumbs.net/designernotes/episodes/sid-meier-...</a>
<a href="https://www.idlethumbs.net/designernotes/episodes/sid-meier-part-2" rel="nofollow">https://www.idlethumbs.net/designernotes/episodes/sid-meier-...</a>
<a href="https://www.idlethumbs.net/designernotes/episodes/sid-meier-part-3" rel="nofollow">https://www.idlethumbs.net/designernotes/episodes/sid-meier-...</a>
<a href="https://www.idlethumbs.net/designernotes/episodes/sid-meier-part-4" rel="nofollow">https://www.idlethumbs.net/designernotes/episodes/sid-meier-...</a>