As I inherit my turn, I make several decisions. The more I think, the more I agree that the lighthouse is
ABSOLUTELY VITAL to our success right now! If we can contact the other civs and make up all this backlog in techs we have it will be a huge help. All we have to do is find one other civ and instantly we will be caught up. So after we research Republic, I plan to revolt immediately and research the Lighthouse. I plan to time it so we can switch the Colossus in Cow Town with 1 turn left and therefore have a good head start on the Lighthouse. Here we go!
1 - 50 BC - Micromanage Hillville a bit - Library 4 turns faster.
2 - 30 BC - Babylonians complete the Oracle. Who are these fellas anyway? I spot at least 2 Persian settlers scampering towards the remaining open territory in the East - looks like they might get it. I change Rocky Top's to settler to try and get another slice of land.
3 - 10 BC - English complete the Great Wall of China! I mean the Great Wall of England! Ahhh... I'm so confused!!! :crazyeyes
4 - 10 AD - Persians found a city up in the Tundra to our west... I bet there is a resource there... The secrets of Republic discovered! A revolution is called!! (We are religious, after all). Starting Map Making!
5 - 30 AD - We are a Republic!!! Unfortunately, our treasury is running at -30/turn, but I can't decrease our luxury tax for fear of massive uprisings, and I don't want to decrease our science rate because we need to discover Map Making before the Colossus is built so we can switch it. Oh well... we'll run at a deficit for 5 turns. (Note - Mapmaking would've taken 8 turns under despotism!)
In other news, the Persians are arbitrarily annoyed!

I did nothing to provoke this - they just want to kill us. Two more cities founded to our west!! Ackkk... A major war is brewing...
6 - 50 AD - Oh no - Persians settle another city - no more room for us - well, there is a little more - I'll try to squeeze another city in yet...
7 - 70 AD - Our last settler is moving in to position, nestled between the Persian cities. Our border is solidifying well, as most of our cities have temples now.
8 - 90 AD - Map Making next turn...
9 - 110 AD - Map Making discovered! Iron working next! Iron working takes 4 turns even at a lower science rate, so Our financial deficit is assuaged, for now. Hill Ville switched to Galley. Coastal Resort switched to Galley. One other town ( I can't remember name) switched to galley. Cow Town switched to Lighthouse - due in 13 turns!
10 - 130 AD - Fortifying all our towns with at least 2 spearmen. I change our Capitol to a no growth arrangement - will go into disorder if I don't.
11 - 150 AD - "Immortal Bait" founded within the midst of the new Persian colonies. Has 3 defenders so starting temple immediately, and I'm moving workers that way to chop down trees to get temple faster.
12 - 170 AD - Hill Ville starts the Colossus - maybe we can still get it? 20 turns... Our first galley produced!
13 - 190 AD - Iron Working discovered! Wheel next... This is such a weird game! :crazyeyes Usually I go for iron working as my first tech! Anyway, we have one source, right near
Industrial Metal Works!! Did I call that one or what??
In an amazing turn of events, there is another source lying directly on a 1 space neutral zone between us and Persia. Unfortunately, it is only two spaces away from the Persian city and three from ours, so they will probably get it. I think it's their only source though, so if we can deny it to them...
There also doesn't seem to be a sea route to the West of our capitol. It looks like our best bet for finding another civ will be south of Coastal resort.
14 - 210 AD - Two more galleys built - I will position them to explore as soon as lighthouse is done.
15 - 230 - In an Amazing turn of events, there is nothing to report!
16 - 250 AD - Workers nearing Immortal bait to cut down trees. Wheel discovered - we have one source, already connected, near Rocky Top. The people expand the palace!
17 - We attack a barbarian galley - and win! Our galley promoted to veteran! Persians have two sources of horses.
18 - 270 AD - Iron connected!!!! Da Capitol starts producing swordsmen. Another iron has cropped up in our territory!! :mwaha2: It is close to Desert town! - which is now producing 7 shields! Not bad for a desert town. I wonder who lost their iron?
19 - Almost done...
20 - I can't believe this is my last turn! Light house
next turn
SUMMARY
The lighthouse is coming next turn, and we have 3 galleys ready to go. I strongly suggest that once we make contact, we KEEP the Persians isolated! Don't let anyone talk to them! This will give us the advantage we need to crush them. Once we get caught up in tech with the Lighthouse + Great Library, we should shoot for Chivalry and crush the Persians with War Elephants. This would probably give us enough territory to ensure us a win.
A couple more notes - don't forget to chop down the forests near Immortal Bait. Also notice that the science rate is low just because these old techs only take 4 turns even at these low rates!
A quick pic showing our great wonder and the source of iron that will decide the war: