Foundation begins with Gaal Dornick visiting Trantor, the capital of the Galactic Empire, to meet Hari Seldon, a psychohistorian who uses mathematics to predict the future. Using his approach, Seldon discovers that Galactic Empire is gradually collapsing. The aristocratic rulers of the Committee of Public Safety are annoyed by Seldon’s opinions. Seldom is arrested but informs the committee that there is an option for a disastrous future. In his argument, Seldon suggests the creation of Encyclopedia Galactica to reduce the Dark Age from thirty thousand years to one thousand years. Eventually, the committee decides to send him to exile along with Dornick.
The encyclopedists are sent to Terminus, a remote place with minimal resources. The Terminus city is headed by the mayor called Salvor Hardin. Hardin is a ceremonial mayor because the Board of Trustees controls the political influence. However, he is against the decisions made by the Board of Trustees and together with Yohan Lee, they decide to overthrow the board from making key political decisions. The plan is executed successfully, and the mayor becomes powerful and a leader of the foundation. Hardin thwarts the plans of four kingdoms, particularly, Anacreon from carrying out an attack on Terminus.
The foundation led by Hardin sends a trader called Eskel Gorov to distant planets for trading. Unfortunately, he is arrested and detained in Askonce because trading is illegal. As a result, Limar Ponyet is sent to rescue Gorov. Ponyet meets Gorov in his detention, and the two fellows hold a conversation. Gorov informs Ponyet that the only way to be freed from Askonce is to offer the leader gold. Finally, Gorov is released. Foundation also sends Hober Mallow to the planet Korell on a mission to check out technological advancements and missing ships. Before long, Korell collapses, and the foundation emerges the winner. The whole story depicts the fall of the Roman Empire.
