My latest efforts have been with the French: 8 Civs, 4 billion years. Still taking it easy on myself. Ended upon what appears to be a "C" shaped continent, and turns out there is one other large island/continent. I, as it turns out, started on the top part of the "C", all the war to the right. Zulus to my north, Persians to my south, Babylonians to the west, then south to the Germans, southeast to the Russians, and east to the british around the other end of the "C." The Chinese had that other island. Anyway, here goes:

Paris was founded in 4000 B.C. Which was actually year one to them, but that's something else entirely. The French are a commerical and industrious people, and behaved as such. Immediately they sent their finest worker west, building roads as he delved deeper into the darkness. Another worker soon came of age in the city, and went east. The French's finest warrior headed Northwest. The French soon found themselves located at the end of a peninsula, and focused their eyes West. As they built more settlers and warriors, they all received the same words of Wisdom: "Go West, young Man." Met some nice villagers who eagerly agreed to help out. Discovered the Zulus to the north (with a supply of spices just out of their reach), Persians to the south in a harsh desert, and wine to the far west in the mountains. The French decided that one day this would be the basis for their mighty empire, and set about to build it. Managed to capture part of the spice trade with the friendly Zulus, and colonized the wines, only to lose it to an errant Zulu settler. Lesson learned? - other civs can build cities on top of your colonies (and you can do that same!).

With three warriors and not much to do, decided to pick on the Persians. Quickly took their two cities and developed them - but those darn Persians snuck off and hid on the other side of the continent. (No matter, the Zulus would later make short work of them). Traded early and often with the other Civs, and emerged as a strong Republic, although the French weren't the first into the Middle Ages. But the power of the republic, combined with a great network of roads and improvements, soon propelled me to the top. And French culture DOMINATED the world - we built every single wonder (except the hanging gardens) and had the most desired cities in the land. Zulu attempts to expand into our fine nation were in some ways welcomed - the people soon learned to embrace France's might.

As time moved on, the French decided to do something about their lack of iron - they hadn't fought a war since the dawn of man, but planned on it soon. And, using their new technology, set sail into the darkness to the south, noticing that the "sea" kept going, and soon discovered land (sailed from the top part of the C to the bottom). Iron was there, and a city was formed. The Dastardly Brits didn't like that too much, and thus began the first war of many between the two nations. The French held Bescanon, and soon discovered - joy of joys! - a trove on incense to the south in the desert. And The French continued to explore the virgin territory, and found horses - joy of joys again! And so a ring of cities grew up, nestled between the British and Russians.

The French people were happy - their culture was by far the most dominant (greater than all other civs combined), and it was truly a second Golden Age, if not in name. Realizing they would have to defend their sister cities to the south, the French people trained their powerful musketeers at first, then more useful Cavalry when they became able to do so. The British knights and longbowmen did not stand a chance. Meanwhile, the restless youth of the nation set forth on a great trek across the seas, eventually discovering the powerful but backward nation of China, isolated as it was. Settlers soon snatched away a useful colony of dyes, and kept watch over the large Chinese population.

Towards the 18th century, the French were on top of the world, and emerged as the world's first democracy. The other nations grew jealous and revealed their hatred, as the Germans, British, and Russians all teamed up to declare war on the mighty French. Their forces were numerous, but we defended ourselves against the British invasion, and indeed routed their forces. At the same time, the Russians poured Longbowman after longbowman at the cities that controlled the horsemen, but the French held them back with musketeers and cannon.

Reinforcements arrived just in time on both fronts, and in the year 1790 a great leader was born - Napoleon! (No kidding - I couldn't stop laughing - history really was happening here.) However, THIS Napoleon was smart, and let the Russians be after taking one of their cities to further protect the horse trade, and the French turned their eye to the British. They invaded and took Five cities along the Bay of Bescanon, using Frigates and later Ironclads to bombard and prepare the way for the Cavalry. The people became restless and finally peace was settled. The French empire of the South and the North both worked to improve themselves and promote peace for the next 100 years.

Meanwhile, France moved light years ahead of its neighbors, and with its Military academy at Marseilles, began to produce great armies. In the 1920s, the Babylonians made the mistake of provoking war on the western edge of northern France, and experienced a slaughter of massive proportions. The French armies, using the Napoleonic strategies of a century earlier, bombarded the cities with artillery protected by infantry, had the armies storm the city, and mopped up the remnants with their cavalry. The Germans joined in the conflict with little reason, giving the Southern French armies, still led by the immortal Napoleon and his second in command, leader Richelieu, the excuse it needed to advance towards the Germans along the coast of the Bay of Bescanon towards the west. Prior scouting revealed that the Germans held significant rubber and oil deposits, which they know nothing about.

The year is now 1940, and the French have taken Babylon's ancient home (there are rumors of colonies at the far end of the continent). The two armies of the north have secured a right of passage through the Zulu terrority along the center of the continent (the stem of the "C") and towards the French from one end. Meanwhile, the two armies of Southern France advance to the north and west. And across the seas, a final army and invading force makes it way, originally bound for China but now ordered to take the west coast and obliterate the Germans and Babylonians forever. And Battleships and Destroyers make their way across the sea of Bescanon, protecting transports of a new threat: the dreaded French tank.

Stay tuned for more!!!

lessons learned: bombardment from artillery units and sea units helps greatly. Lots of culture will make you a popular enemy. You can build cities on their colonies. If you find a solitary civilization, dont give it contact with other civs - make sure it stays backward. Get a leader and form an army - they are cool and once you have one and Military tradition you can build the academy. With the French, the time to do this is when you get the musketeer because they give you a huge advantage. trade territory maps to find out abotu new resources, and plan your military actions based on acquiring those items. But keep in mind that a contiguous empire is the ultimate goal. When exploring by water, look for sea tiles that stretch out further than they should - they will lead you to new islands or, in my case, the other end of your continent. and if you are DYING to know whats in the blackness, save your game and "retire" - you will get a "Vision of the Gods" that shows you the entire history of the world up to the present. (thats how I justified it, anyways). and UPGRADE UPGRADE UPGRADE - so much cheaper than building new units! Finally, when an expansive civ, such as the Zulus or british, start building lots of new cities in pockets in "your turf," just settle around them and build up culture. Trust me, they will join you soon enough!