Getting whupped on a small map. Any advice for a newb next time?

[splunge the 2nd]

My tale of woe continues.
I found an early save and play an hour or so, following advice, using the pause at end of turn preference, eschew wonders and spearmen and get to the pijnt where I have philosophy. Up pops my science adviser who asks if I want to research The Wheel. I accidentally click OK and instead of free Republic I save 5 paltry turns to get the wheel!?! My cursing is heard in neighboring states as I reload the early save.
I start again, avoiding mistakes, spacing my towns closer, concentrating on workers and settlers and as fate would have it, up pops Louis Pasteur as a reward for learning writing! It's cheap, but a turn later I have the pyramids, I haven't really improved my playing, but I think this will put me at a strong advantage going forward. Look out Japan!
By the way, does a wonder built by a leader trigger a GA?

 

[Tone]

By the way, does a wonder built by a leader trigger a GA?

Leader built wonders have nothing to do with GAs but building a wonder (with or without a leader) can trigger a GA.

If you complete a wonder, a check is made to see which wonders you now own. If you have wonders that match both your traits, then you get a GA. (assuming that you haven't had one already)

You are playing France so you need wonders that match your commercial and industrious traits. The Pyramids satisfies the industrious part so you need a wonder that is commercial. The Colossus or the Great Lighthouse are two early ones and Magellan's is a middle age one. so building any of these will now trigger the GA for you (as long as you don't lose the Pyramids). Alternatively capture a commercial wonder and then build any wonder you want in order to get that GA kick started.

 

[splunge the 2nd]

Actually, I was worried I'd get the GA too early, before I'd have a chance to develop sources of income and Republic. Maybe the Muketeers will get a victory in a few hundred years.

 

[Tone]

Personally I am normally happy with a GA just as soon as I'm out of Despotism, unless I'm staying in Despotism for the whole game in which case I'll like to have a few towns built first. Still, each to his own in this respect...

 

[AznWarlord]

Below are a few generally accepted guidelines for newbs.

1. Mine green, irrigate brown. You have mines on brown tiles which usually isn't done. You also mined a cow, which normally should be irrigated.

I always thought that is was mine brown and irrigate green - you want as much food as possible from the green spaces so you can break the limit of 2 food in depositism. The brown should be mined so you don't lag in shields afterwards.

 

[Aabraxan]

No. The rule of thumb is mine green, irrigate brown. You're correct that you want as much food as possible in the early game. But grasslands are 2-food tiles. Irrigate that and it becomes a 3-food tile. But if you are still in despotism, the despo penalty takes one food off the top. The result is that you're left with a 2-food tile again. Grass with a food bonus is a different situation, though.