I played Corinth on emperor and since I disrespect emperor AI so much, I decided that I am not going to pay if anyone demands anything. Was not going to pay for peace either. So I was constantly at war with 3-4 AI (Sparta, Aetolia, Athens, Thebes, Epeiros, Macedon, Thrake, Chersonesos all wanted something from me at some point) = fun. Here is a little guide. The trick is NOT to build towns in Peloponnesos, so spartans can only attack Corinth and not some weaker town. Also, instead of building a settler, build herald, then one worker, improve land, build potter wheel and start pumping out akonistes. When you have 6 of them attack theban town, take it, make peace for techs or maybe another town. Then attack athenians - don`t try to take towns, just fortify on their copper and stay there. Do not accept peace regardless what they offer, you must stay on their copper. Take all Attica when 1st champ shows up. After that cashrush granaries everywhere and your uber land and awesome civ traits will make life easy now. Don`t forget to rape Penelope at some point, she looks so bored and stuck on that small island.