just gone done playing mine.

1. first turn, go attack pergamon, take over thier city in Asia.

2. 2nd turn, offer my daughter for like 5,000 for marriage to Carthage

3. 3rd turn take over Byzantum/ Constitinople. Prepare to keep two armies in each city to defend against rebellions.

4. turns 4-10. Once you take over Asia / Constinople/ Thracia, you can make a ton of cash thru upgrading your ports.

Controlling the flow of trade into the Baltic. I never needed money again, and basically was able to choose where i wanted to go after that point.

let me know if you have any questions