At noble, you can try the following (only takes about 30 minutes for each start.
Settle, build worker. Pick tech based on local resources.
Use your starting unit (scout or warrior) to find your closest neighbor
After worker, build 3 warriors.
Send all 3 warriors to your closest neighbor to conquer (I think Rome starts with a warrior, so perhaps send all 4). He'll only have a defending warrior and hopefully a worker. Now you have 2 cities + 2 workers very early in the game.
From there, domination should be attainable. Probably another neighbor goes down via axe/preat rush, and a third via preat/mace/cat rush.
The rest is up to you
