diff --git a/src/game/engine/src/autoloads/data_loader.gd b/src/game/engine/src/autoloads/data_loader.gd
index 89af0ecf..cb6b72b8 100644
--- a/src/game/engine/src/autoloads/data_loader.gd
+++ b/src/game/engine/src/autoloads/data_loader.gd
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ extends Node
 ## Ecology accessors are delegated to _ecology (data_loader_ecology.gd).
 
 const DATA_CATEGORIES: Array[String] = [
-	"terrain", "units", "buildings", "techs", "spells", "races",
+	"terrain", "units", "buildings", "techs", "culture", "spells", "races",
 	"resources", "keywords", "improvements", "items", "promotions",
 	"magical_promotions", "governments", "disciplines", "eras", "victories",
 	"villages", "wilds", "npc_buildings", "difficulty", "setup",
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ const _RESOURCES_DIR_MAP: Dictionary = {
 	"homeworlds": "worlds",
 	"resources": "deposits",
 	"techs": "techs",
+	"culture": "culture",
 	"world_biomes": "ecology/biomes",
 	"world_flora": "ecology/flora",
 	"world_fauna": "ecology/fauna",
@@ -331,6 +332,9 @@ func get_all_buildings() -> Array:
 func get_all_techs() -> Array:
 	return _data["techs"].values()
 
+func get_all_culture() -> Array:
+	return _data["culture"].values()
+
 func get_all_spells() -> Array:
 	return _data["spells"].values()
 
diff --git a/src/game/engine/src/autoloads/event_bus.gd b/src/game/engine/src/autoloads/event_bus.gd
index 9d9819a4..2737f97e 100644
--- a/src/game/engine/src/autoloads/event_bus.gd
+++ b/src/game/engine/src/autoloads/event_bus.gd
@@ -55,6 +55,14 @@ signal school_locked(player_index: int, schools: Array)
 ## Drives tutorial step 6 ("open tech tree").
 signal tech_tree_opened(player_index: int)
 
+# -- Culture-research signals (parallel to tech) --
+## Emitted when a cultural tradition completes for the given player.
+signal culture_researched(tradition_id: String, player_index: int)
+## Emitted when a cultural tradition is queued for research.
+signal culture_research_started(tradition_id: String, player_index: int)
+## Emitted when the player opens the culture tree overlay.
+signal culture_tree_opened(player_index: int)
+
 # -- Combat signals --
 signal combat_started(attacker: Variant, defender: Variant)
 signal combat_resolved(attacker: Variant, defender: Variant, result: Dictionary)
diff --git a/src/game/engine/src/entities/player.gd b/src/game/engine/src/entities/player.gd
index c8977a06..033b4041 100644
--- a/src/game/engine/src/entities/player.gd
+++ b/src/game/engine/src/entities/player.gd
@@ -80,6 +80,15 @@ var science_per_turn: int = 0
 ## opaque handle is needed; callers read this array directly.
 var researched_techs: Array[String] = []
 
+# ── Culture research (parallel track to tech) ─────────────────────────
+## Currently-researched cultural tradition id, or empty if none.
+var researching_tradition: String = ""
+## Culture-research progress accumulated toward the current tradition.
+var culture_research_progress: int = 0
+## Researched cultural tradition ids — canonical state used to gate
+## culture-tier wonders / Golden-Age effects / culture-victory progress.
+var researched_traditions: Array[String] = []
+
 # ── Magic ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 ## Unlocked magic school ids (max 2 under current school-lock rules).
 var schools: Array[String] = []
@@ -132,6 +141,21 @@ func has_tech(tech_id: String) -> bool:
 	return researched_techs.has(tech_id)
 
 
+## True if `tradition_id` has been researched. Empty is treated as
+## "no requirement".
+func has_tradition(tradition_id: String) -> bool:
+	if tradition_id.is_empty():
+		return true
+	return researched_traditions.has(tradition_id)
+
+
+## Mark `tradition_id` as researched. No-op on duplicate.
+func add_tradition(tradition_id: String) -> void:
+	if tradition_id.is_empty() or researched_traditions.has(tradition_id):
+		return
+	researched_traditions.append(tradition_id)
+
+
 ## Mark `tech_id` as researched and, if it unlocks a magic school,
 ## append that school to `schools` (capped at 2 under current rules).
 func add_tech(tech_id: String) -> void:
diff --git a/src/game/engine/src/modules/tech/knowledge_web.gd b/src/game/engine/src/modules/tech/knowledge_web.gd
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..09b94f99
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/game/engine/src/modules/tech/knowledge_web.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,160 @@
+class_name KnowledgeWeb
+extends RefCounted
+## Shared GDScript wrapper over a Rust knowledge graph (TechWeb / CultureWeb).
+## Holds the GDExtension class instance, the per-player progress fields it
+## reads from each `Player` entity, and the EventBus signal names it emits
+## on research start. Tech and culture paths instantiate this same class
+## with different `_config` so the UI scene can drive both.
+
+const PlayerScript: GDScript = preload("res://engine/src/entities/player.gd")
+
+## Configuration accepted by `_init`. Keys (all required):
+##   gd_class                — `"GdTechWeb"` / `"GdCultureWeb"`
+##   data_loader_method      — `"get_all_techs"` / `"get_all_culture"`
+##   load_method             — `"load_from_json"`
+##   data_method             — `"tech_data_json"` / `"tradition_data_json"`
+##   pillars_method          — `"pillars"`
+##   nodes_by_pillar_method  — `"techs_by_pillar"` / `"traditions_by_pillar"`
+##   prereqs_met_method      — `"prereqs_met"`
+##   researched_field        — Player Array[String] field
+##   researching_field       — Player String field
+##   progress_field          — Player int field
+##   started_signal          — EventBus signal name fired by `start_research`
+
+var _bridge: RefCounted = null
+var _config: Dictionary = {}
+var _node_count: int = 0
+
+
+func _init(config: Dictionary) -> void:
+	_config = config
+
+
+## Lazily instantiate the GDExtension bridge and load the JSON dataset
+## from `DataLoader`. Idempotent.
+func build() -> void:
+	if _bridge != null:
+		return
+	var class_name_str: String = String(_config["gd_class"])
+	if not ClassDB.class_exists(class_name_str):
+		push_error("KnowledgeWeb: GDExtension class %s not registered" % class_name_str)
+		return
+	_bridge = ClassDB.instantiate(class_name_str) as RefCounted
+	var nodes: Array = DataLoader.call(String(_config["data_loader_method"])) as Array
+	var json_text: String = JSON.stringify(nodes)
+	var ok: bool = bool(_bridge.call(String(_config["load_method"]), json_text))
+	if not ok:
+		push_error("KnowledgeWeb: %s.%s failed" % [class_name_str, String(_config["load_method"])])
+	_node_count = nodes.size()
+
+
+# ── Graph queries ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+func get_node_count() -> int:
+	return _node_count
+
+
+func get_pillars() -> Array[String]:
+	if _bridge == null:
+		return []
+	var raw: PackedStringArray = _bridge.call(String(_config["pillars_method"])) as PackedStringArray
+	var out: Array[String] = []
+	for s: String in raw:
+		out.append(s)
+	return out
+
+
+func get_nodes_by_pillar(pillar: String) -> Array[String]:
+	if _bridge == null:
+		return []
+	var raw: PackedStringArray = _bridge.call(
+		String(_config["nodes_by_pillar_method"]), pillar
+	) as PackedStringArray
+	var out: Array[String] = []
+	for s: String in raw:
+		out.append(s)
+	return out
+
+
+func get_data(node_id: String) -> Dictionary:
+	if _bridge == null:
+		return {}
+	var json_text: String = _bridge.call(String(_config["data_method"]), node_id) as String
+	if json_text.is_empty():
+		return {}
+	var json: JSON = JSON.new()
+	if json.parse(json_text) != OK or not (json.data is Dictionary):
+		return {}
+	return json.data as Dictionary
+
+
+# ── Per-player queries ──────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+func is_researched(node_id: String, player_index: int) -> bool:
+	var researched: Array[String] = _researched_set(player_index)
+	return researched.has(node_id)
+
+
+func can_research(node_id: String, player_index: int) -> bool:
+	if _bridge == null or node_id.is_empty():
+		return false
+	var researched: Array[String] = _researched_set(player_index)
+	if researched.has(node_id):
+		return false
+	var prereq_set: PackedStringArray = []
+	for r: String in researched:
+		prereq_set.append(r)
+	return bool(_bridge.call(String(_config["prereqs_met_method"]), node_id, prereq_set))
+
+
+func get_current_research(player_index: int) -> String:
+	var player: PlayerScript = _get_player(player_index)
+	if player == null:
+		return ""
+	return String(player.get(String(_config["researching_field"])))
+
+
+func get_progress_fraction(player_index: int) -> float:
+	var current: String = get_current_research(player_index)
+	if current.is_empty():
+		return 0.0
+	var data: Dictionary = get_data(current)
+	var cost: int = int(data.get("cost", 0))
+	if cost <= 0:
+		return 1.0
+	var player: PlayerScript = _get_player(player_index)
+	if player == null:
+		return 0.0
+	var progress: int = int(player.get(String(_config["progress_field"])))
+	return clamp(float(progress) / float(cost), 0.0, 1.0)
+
+
+func start_research(node_id: String, player_index: int) -> bool:
+	if not can_research(node_id, player_index):
+		return false
+	var player: PlayerScript = _get_player(player_index)
+	if player == null:
+		return false
+	player.set(String(_config["researching_field"]), node_id)
+	player.set(String(_config["progress_field"]), 0)
+	EventBus.emit_signal(String(_config["started_signal"]), node_id, player_index)
+	return true
+
+
+# ── Internals ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+func _get_player(player_index: int) -> PlayerScript:
+	if player_index < 0 or player_index >= GameState.players.size():
+		return null
+	return GameState.players[player_index] as PlayerScript
+
+
+func _researched_set(player_index: int) -> Array[String]:
+	var player: PlayerScript = _get_player(player_index)
+	if player == null:
+		return []
+	var raw: Array = player.get(String(_config["researched_field"])) as Array
+	var out: Array[String] = []
+	for v in raw:
+		out.append(String(v))
+	return out
diff --git a/src/game/engine/src/modules/tech/tech_web.gd b/src/game/engine/src/modules/tech/tech_web.gd
index 6b0f081e..cfc7846d 100644
--- a/src/game/engine/src/modules/tech/tech_web.gd
+++ b/src/game/engine/src/modules/tech/tech_web.gd
@@ -1,15 +1,106 @@
 class_name TechWeb
 extends RefCounted
-## Placeholder TechWeb. Real tech graph/research lives on backlog until the
-## mc-tech crate + GdTechWeb binding land. These no-ops keep existing callers
-## (turn_manager, tech_tree scene, auto_play) from crashing at runtime.
+## Real GDScript wrapper around the `GdTechWeb` GDExtension class.
+## Delegates the prerequisite graph and research mechanics to the Rust
+## `mc-tech::TechWeb` and exposes the same surface `tech_tree.gd` /
+## `tech_tree_proof.gd` rely on (`get_pillars`, `get_techs_by_pillar`,
+## `get_tech_data`, `is_researched`, `can_research`, `get_current_research`,
+## `get_progress_fraction`, `start_research`).
 
-var _nodes: Dictionary = {}
+const KnowledgeWebScript: GDScript = preload(
+	"res://engine/src/modules/tech/knowledge_web.gd"
+)
+const PlayerScript: GDScript = preload("res://engine/src/entities/player.gd")
 
+const _CONFIG: Dictionary = {
+	"gd_class": "GdTechWeb",
+	"data_loader_method": "get_all_techs",
+	"load_method": "load_from_json",
+	"data_method": "tech_data_json",
+	"pillars_method": "pillars",
+	"nodes_by_pillar_method": "techs_by_pillar",
+	"prereqs_met_method": "prereqs_met",
+	"researched_field": "researched_techs",
+	"researching_field": "researching",
+	"progress_field": "research_progress",
+	"started_signal": "tech_research_started",
+}
+
+var _web: KnowledgeWebScript = KnowledgeWebScript.new(_CONFIG)
+
+
+# ── TurnManager-compatible API (build / heritage) ───────────────────────
 
 func build(_techs: Array) -> void:
-	pass
+	## Argument retained for backwards compatibility with the old placeholder;
+	## the real load reads directly from `DataLoader.get_all_techs()`.
+	_web.build()
 
 
-func apply_heritage_tech(_player: RefCounted) -> void:
-	pass
+func apply_heritage_tech(player: RefCounted) -> void:
+	## Grant the player's race origin tech (cost 0 by convention).
+	if player == null:
+		return
+	var p: PlayerScript = player as PlayerScript
+	if p == null:
+		return
+	var data: Dictionary = DataLoader.get_race(p.race_id) as Dictionary
+	var origin: String = String(data.get("origin_tech", ""))
+	if origin.is_empty():
+		return
+	p.add_tech(origin)
+
+
+# ── Internal `_nodes` accessor — TurnManager uses it as a "is loaded" probe ─
+
+var _nodes: Dictionary:
+	get:
+		# Non-empty once `build()` has run.
+		return {0: 1} if _web.get_node_count() > 0 else {}
+
+
+# ── Graph queries (proxied to KnowledgeWeb) ─────────────────────────────
+
+func get_pillars() -> Array[String]:
+	return _web.get_pillars()
+
+
+func get_techs_by_pillar(pillar: String) -> Array[String]:
+	return _web.get_nodes_by_pillar(pillar)
+
+
+func get_tech_data(tech_id: String) -> Dictionary:
+	return _web.get_data(tech_id)
+
+
+func get_tech_count() -> int:
+	return _web.get_node_count()
+
+
+func get_available_techs(player_index: int) -> Array[String]:
+	var out: Array[String] = []
+	for pillar: String in _web.get_pillars():
+		for id: String in _web.get_nodes_by_pillar(pillar):
+			if _web.can_research(id, player_index):
+				out.append(id)
+	return out
+
+
+func is_researched(tech_id: String, player_index: int) -> bool:
+	return _web.is_researched(tech_id, player_index)
+
+
+func can_research(tech_id: String, player_index: int) -> bool:
+	return _web.can_research(tech_id, player_index)
+
+
+func get_current_research(player_index: int) -> String:
+	return _web.get_current_research(player_index)
+
+
+func get_progress_fraction(player_index: int) -> float:
+	return _web.get_progress_fraction(player_index)
+
+
+func start_research(tech_id: String, player_index: int) -> bool:
+	return _web.start_research(tech_id, player_index)
diff --git a/src/simulator/api-gdext/src/ai.rs b/src/simulator/api-gdext/src/ai.rs
index dafaaa27..49303a57 100644
--- a/src/simulator/api-gdext/src/ai.rs
+++ b/src/simulator/api-gdext/src/ai.rs
@@ -961,6 +961,10 @@ mod tests {
             capital_position: Some((0, 0)),
             culture_total: 0,
             culture_pool: mc_culture::CulturePool::default(),
+            researching_tradition: String::new(),
+            culture_research_progress: 0,
+            researched_traditions: Default::default(),
+            player_culture: None,
             arcane_lore_pop_deducted: false,
             traded_luxuries: Default::default(),
             relations: Default::default(),
diff --git a/src/simulator/crates/mc-sim/src/lib.rs b/src/simulator/crates/mc-sim/src/lib.rs
index 9b6db0fc..6b8a41a4 100644
--- a/src/simulator/crates/mc-sim/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/simulator/crates/mc-sim/src/lib.rs
@@ -181,6 +181,8 @@ impl GameRunner {
             deposit_yield_table: Default::default(),
             tech_web: None,
             tech_web_parsed: None,
+            culture_web: None,
+            culture_web_parsed: None,
             lair_combat_config: Default::default(),
             victory_config: None,
         };
diff --git a/src/simulator/tests/integration/tests/pvp_combat_determinism.rs b/src/simulator/tests/integration/tests/pvp_combat_determinism.rs
index 3807772c..1a5e3e79 100644
--- a/src/simulator/tests/integration/tests/pvp_combat_determinism.rs
+++ b/src/simulator/tests/integration/tests/pvp_combat_determinism.rs
@@ -49,7 +49,11 @@ fn make_player(index: u8, unit: MapUnit) -> PlayerState {
         city_positions: vec![(0, 0)],
         capital_position: None,
         culture_total: 0,
-            culture_pool: mc_culture::CulturePool::default(),
+        culture_pool: mc_culture::CulturePool::default(),
+        researching_tradition: String::new(),
+        culture_research_progress: 0,
+        researched_traditions: Default::default(),
+        player_culture: None,
         arcane_lore_pop_deducted: false,
         traded_luxuries: Default::default(),
         relations: Default::default(),