Rare and quite possibly best empire/ economy game?

Ok so back about 9 years ago or so, i purchased this empire/expansion/economy style pc game. It starts off with an overview of the world with island of varias sizes. You can land whever you want but have to be carefull because there are pirates that can atack you. Once you dock, your free to start gatering resources and building your town. Eventually you are able to build a castle and even a military fortress complete with training area and pplaces for soldieres to sleep. And all of this you design yourself. The game had a ship or 2 or 3 on the cover of it so i guess it revolved around trade and docking and expansion (i only got to play it for a day before it crashed my computer and vanished). Chapels, fishing ports, mines, militarty, houses, ships and any thing else you could ever want was in this game. And even better, it wasnt like age of empire or any other similair game today where its level playing and nds once you defeat the enemy. This was like sim city where you just keep on progressing and if an enemy country tried to take siege against you, you have your military all trained so your set. Mad cool game, mad cool game. I just wish i knew what it was called and why they dont make games like that anymore...If anyone knows this game or any similiar ones please let me no