I would like it if the game were made a bit more dynamic by introducing "shifting traits". This could work like this, for example:
If, for example, you wage constant wars, you one day get the message "The masses are angry with your constant warfare and they have seized controle over the palace and executed the king. As their new leader, the people have chosen XX, a peaceful man who will devote his reign to rebuilding the damaged country, and to educate the people" And suddenly, you'd be scientific/industrious instead of whatever traits you had before.
Of course, it could work the other way as well. Like if you peacefully build your way through an entire game, you could get a message like this "Too late, we have found out that the nobelmen have been plotting against the king. Apparently, they were tired of how he ruined the reputation of the once so glorious and fear-striking empire of X. The king has been assassinated, and the nobles have chosen general XX as their new leader. General XX will devout his reign to bring back X into its former glory, and once again show our enemies who's the boss." And, just like that, you'd be militaristic/expansionist.
etc., etc.
Of course, there should be some negative effects to go along with such changes, so that players wouldn't try to provoke a change for a peaceful leader when they feel that they have fought enough, and that it's time to start building. Perhaps this negative effect could be that all cities lost 25% of their population (represented by the revolution that would doubtless be necessary to bring about the change).
This would prevent players from using one single strategy throughout an entire game. It would also simulate how civilizations change over the course of history. It would, for example, be very hard to argue that today's Scandinavian countries are any kind of expansionists, but in the game they are since the vikings were.
I don't know, does this sound too complicated or crazy?