The map was glorious. Thanks to Green Bear for assembling such an enjoyable game.
I embarked on a peaceful effort towards 20k and the Wonders just rolled in over the early years. I decided to set up my inner ring in OxxxxO fashion, but even then didn't strictlly adhere to the layout. My initial two cities are shown below. It might have been better to space a bit tighter but I thought leaving all 24 tiles open for the capital would be best in the long run. I will see what the experts did later on.
The first difficulty was iron, located fairly far to the west in what should have been Egyptian territory. I gained it by settling that distant hill and filling in the land in between. I eventually made that site my Forbidden Palace but I never really developed it very well. Regardless, it was never challenged by Egypt and slowed them down plenty.
I could not find horses nearby and needed to send a settler south to settle next to one in Roman territory. After I built a temle it was in my territory and again I filled in the space between. There was only one source of saltpeter on our continent, and it was also in Roman territory near to the horses. I built another city and temple next to it and culture bombed all the ingredients for cavalry into my empire. Several cities flipped to me around this time, and I began to wonder if I would be stronger for a 100k or a 20k victory. By the time of cavalry I was feeling very secure in victory.
My culture was dominant but despite five cities flipping to me one of mine strangely flipped to Egypt. Hmmm. Quite some turn later the good people revolted and came back to the fold.
I entered the Industrial Age secure and nearly flippant. Rome declared on me for no discernible reason but that allowed me to take some of his western cities and it gained me the land on which I would eventually find both coal and rubber, I think.
I didn't have oil, but when I discovered its utility I was at war with a very weak Germany. I had been trying to get peace with Otto but he refused. I took this opportunity to take Leipzig and his oil. Then he settled for peace, but I had what I needed.
Finally I built the U.N. and was few turns away from a 20k victory. England declared on me, I fought her majesty off and got all the other nations to ally with me in war against her empire. The second time a U.N. vote was offered I accepted. Cleopatra ran against me and she only got one vote, her own. Everyone else voted Ragnar. Maybe I should have held on for a 20k victory, but... Game Won! I know I did it sloppy, I know I did it slow, but it was fun!
Thanks Green Bear.