Does the game now favor peace over war?

[Mesix]

Here is a synopsis of my experience with a recent game as Assyria. As I took over the second civilization in the late Classical to early Medieval era, all the other civs on the map denounced me on the same turn. Eventually the denouncement expired and I was able to get decent diplomatic relations with 3 out of the 4 remaining civs (having conquered another during the time I was denounced) until I DOW them in the Renaissance era for my final push. Of all the AI in the game, only Rome put up a decent fight. I attacked Rome first and then sued for peace outside their capital when a UU ballista inside the capital started causing heavy attrition of my archers. I returned with compoundbowmen and swordsmen a bit later to finish off Rome.