Assimilation--Resistance is futile!

[the sicilian]

Does anyone have any suggestions about dealing with my cities being assimilated by another civ. There I am, merrily conquering cities left and right on a new continent. (Gov=Republic) I have a better culture score than my opponent and I'm getting luxuries into my new cities because I have a harbor on the continent. And the #@%&%$ citiizens of a recently conquered city go over to the other civ, talking my Army with them! I have dealt with it by going back to my last save and rushing a temple or library in the city so they don't get overwhelmed. But I don't see why they they think the other civ's culture is better than mine. Is it because they are starving (in the middle gavme my conquered cities always are in unrest or starvation for five or six turns)? These cities have a bunch of units in them to put down resisters.

 

[eMarkM]

Well, how close to their capital are these cities? That makes a big difference. Do roads from the conquered city connect to your capital, they must or they're not getting the lux. You say you are "out culturing" them, what exactly do they think of your culture? Are they "in awe", "impressed"? I can never hold a city if they're "disdainful", but haven't had big problems when they admire mine. Rushing temple always helps and if they admire your culture, that should be enough. If they're dismissive or disdainful, I find it's usually better just to raze unless they have a wonder.

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[shirleyrocks]

Assuming these cities you've just captured are still resisting and/or are close to the enemy heartland, you'll have a bigger problem with culture and loyalty than you would otherwise.

 

[GreenLantern]

There are a few ways I've been able to effectively deal with the problem of conquered cities rebelling. Originally, I tended to raze them and replace them, but then I realized that this hurt my rep in the world more than it was worth, so I gave that up. So the best answer I've come up with is the following:

1) Make sure your culture exceeds the enemy's culture.
2) Don't raze cities.
3) Once you capture a city, base 3 units there until resistance is quelled. Keep a couple of units nearby, but not in the city, to recapture if necessary.
4) As soon as the resistance ends, pay for a temple.
5) Negotiate an end to the war as soon as possible - the anger remains while the war against their homeland continues.

Also, consider having your workers join the city to add some of your population to it, adding balance to the population.

I've been able to keep rebellion down to nearly zero by doing this. It is harder, though, once you take on an enemy with larger cities (size 12 or greater). The resistance lasts longer, and it takes time to assimilate them.

 

[hauchdeslebens]

Luxaries and temple are beneficial for keeping a city, but I always start by having three weak armies in the city while starving the population. The elite armies are fortified around the city to keep of any counter attacks. Adding own workers and settlers to the new city is a must if you want to control the city as fast as possible.
Building settlers in the city works only once! But turning two foreigners to own is fair enough.
Do you try to conquer all enemy cities? Normally I raze half of them...

 

[the sicilian]

I usually only raze cities in lousy territory, tundras and desert, that can't grow. The cities I'm dealing with now are heartland -of my opponent- cities with abundant resources so I don't want to raze them. Besides, doesn't razing cities make your opponents angrier? I read somewhere that it hurts your reputation but does it have any effect on your culture rating? It seems that if you are slaughtering citizens you won't be considered very cultured.