[Shabbaman]

I'm not so sure. I'd like to see more of his position. I've still room to expand, but the lands are pretty crappy (tundra mainly, and desert, but the latter isn't that bad since I'm agricultural). I'll build some more workers to irrigate the desert, and fill them with cities.
First thing is the switch to republic, once the romans are done (if they haven't settled more than one city that means pretty soon), and then to catch up in tech research. I'm praying that I can snatch at least a decent wonder, I've got a prebuild ready.
When I get knights, I think I'll wipe out either the incans (next to matrix, a good foothold) or the sumerians (although a good neighbour might be a good ally somewhere in the future). No clue how to strike matrix from here