Sorry, thought I posted this a while ago, but maybe didnt hit post...
My plan was that on this level is to harass the Maya from either first-meet or when they have both a settler and a worker, which you steal. They never get a second city. So: scout, scout, monument, shrine. Finding a cultural ruin is probably going to be essential for the quickest times (though a pop boost in the capital is also good). Find and surround the maya (preferably they are in a corner) with your units. You'll later need 1-2 archers, but otherwise the capital produces settlers
Then your first 3-5 cities go around them. The rest as can be fitted on the map - there's a tradeoff between settling on luxuries, hills (production) and best spacing. All cities but the first 2-4 are population locked to '1', to prevent extra unhappiness.
Ideally capital is on gold silver (faith/culture pantheon), but tears of the god or culture/pastures, natural wonders are also good. Religion is Mosques and 100g as cities convert. Your 'extra' belief is probably not needed but again: pastures/faith (because of the map type) may be the best.
Build order is shrine:monument:temple or shrine:temple:monument (or rarely: monument:shrine:temple) in all non-capital cities (depending upon whether temples are unlocked yet, and what pantheon belief - you want to balance getting faith and culture). After that settlers or walls (which cost nothing to maintain).
Use the 100g/city to buy more settlers and/or shrines (not temples as their cost is much higher for only a 50% benefit).
As soon as they are surrounded with cities and you are close to sacred sites, peace-out (Marbozir!) and send a pre-made caravan. They have your religion by now, so you get a 50% modifier on tourism. Sometimes they'll even be your friend and you can get open borders - as there is no free spot anywhere on the map for them to place a second city.
