My initial focus would be to hook up horses, pump out Immortals and take out my weakest neighbour. Persepolis was found on the hill, and Parsagadae near the horses. Once I had about 5-6 immortals, I decided that Roosevelt could be subdued before he could hook up copper or iron. So, in 1920BC, I declared war on him. I captured Washington (which was Buddhist) and New York with minimal loss, then converted to Buddhism. Roosevelt no longer posed a threat, so I left him with a city, and he gave me a bunch of techs. I found Susa to the SE by the seafood which I intented to be my initial Great Artist farm.
In 1240BC, I had to declare on Gandhi, he was close to hooking up his SW iron. I capture Bombay and Madras and decide I have sufficently crippled Gandhi for now. I now also control a Jewish city, so my collection of religions is growing - hopefully I will found Confucianism soon and then I will start missionary spamming. About this time I meet Hatty and am glad to have a friend to trade with - the others don't really like me (Even Mansa is hesitant to trade techs!). Eventually convert to Hinduism when it has spread to please Mansa - for him only to discover Code of Laws one turn later (and one turn before me!) and then he converts to Confucianism!!
Builder mode starts to set in. In 325BC i build the Parthenon, which will be handy for my Artist farm, which I am anxious to build the Globe in as soon as possible. Hatty founds Christianity. I keep a couple of cities religion free in the hope that Confucianism or Christianity spread. In 300AD, there is a danger that Gandhi will hook up his NE iron, and maybe worse - his ivory, so I declare again. He has horses now, but I should be able to deal with them. I raze Calcutta and Lahore. Taoism is found, 2 turns before I learn Philosophy - will I never catch a break?!

In 780AD i build the Globe and can get five artists on the go in Susa. With Pacifism, Mercantilism, National Epic and the Parthenon, artists are soon falling out of Susa faster than I can use them. I capture Delhi and Jaipur, and Gandhi is practically finished now. I sign a peace treaty.
Roosevelt is slightly in the way again now, and he has couple of towns I can use for spreading religions and temples. So I declare in 1050AD and take his two cities, eliminating him. Again, I miss Liberalism by 2 turns, which really makes want to declare on Mansa right there and then!!!

But I know that a war with Mansa could really ruin me and let Hatty run away for a space victory, so I put away my sword. For a little while anyway - in 1160AD i declare on Gandhi for the last time intent on exiling him to his tiny island in the western sea - i achieve this in 1290AD.
I had been under the impression that I was going to need 9 cities to ease my cultural win - I had no idea I only needed to 2 temples per cathedral on a small map!!

I felt daft, but still, I'm glad I was the largest civ - I don't think Hatty or Mansa dared dared to attack yet even though both were probably militarily superior and could have hurt me. The missionary, temple and cathedral game began in earnest. Mansa and Hatty even helped out by
spreading Confucianism and Chrisianity to my cities with their missionaries. My chosen culture cities were Persepolis (as my capital usually is), New York and Washington (with their commerce/cottage potential). As soon as I could switch to Emancipation and Universal Suffrage, I did.
I kept researching, until I could build Cavalry and Rifles (to keep Mansa from doing something silly), then took the plunge and diverted 100% of my commerce to gold. I rushed the Taj Mahal in 1555AD with an Engineer which gave me a nice boost to my treasury for rushing my cathedrals. Culture was then set to 100% (my gold deficit eliminated by merchants and wealth in other cities). I built the Hermitage in Persepolis to match Washington's culture/turn (which was mainly derived from settled artists). I even timed a
Palace move to New York (whose culture mainly came from Great Works) in 1795AD to give it a chance to catch up with Washington and New York.
Persepolis eventually became Legendary in 1838AD. New York and Washington followed in 1842AD and 1846AD. I was very pleased with the short 4 turn interval, much better than I have managed with my other cultural games.
Fun game, thanks!!