So we start by maximising scientists in Antium and Rome as previously discussed at 6

per turn each before multipliers this boosts our research up from just over 200 to around 280 beakers per turn which is huge!!
We research through Civil Service as our caravel works its way east wards towards the AIs. During the revolt to Bureaucracy we get a nice random event,
I always take the 50% option if it is a tech I want and engineering is very desirable
and we do get lucky. This actually spurs me to finish off engineering after civil service before going down the Liberalism path.
With Trebuchets alongside Macemen we will soon be able to expand and knock Pericles / Hammy down several pegs if desired.
Now Rome (unlike Antium) needed a harbour for health and once this is built and we pick up sheep from hammy its health improves enough to allocate an extra scientist. Our other cities are busy finishing off their key infrastructure and then gradually working on troops to boost our power which is rising nicely.
So AIs we meet Gandhi rapidly
followed by Elizabeth,
I dont immediately trade as I want to Puzzle out Worst Enemies before picking the trading bloc to join. A particular priority is to be friendly with the AI who has Philosophy as if we can trade for that it will accelerate our Liberalism run noticeably.
A couple of turns later we meet Gilga who is Liz and Gandhis worst enemy
so we do a compass for calendar + change trade with Liz and then this one with Gandhi.
Both as always slightly favour the Ai but we have picked up 2 nice techs.
We have another caravel heading north to then go west to track down other AIs keep our current east bound heading up the coast and looking for a sea path to the east.
In the meantime we founded our horse stone deer city. It was debatable whether a Monument was higher priority but decided on granary for long term prospects..
Lastly remember our deer iron city.. which didnt look that great well add in Maoi statues to this and it will be a nice little city.. Mighty oaks from Little Acorns.
And of course the million dollar question is how are we doing.
Well Power is good and with the quality of our troops (and tactics) I think in 10 more turns we can probably go to war.
Economically we are leading the pack and tech worries
we havent got any
Oh ye of little faith who thought we were in trouble we are in a great position. I think one of the psychological issues to face as you go to higher levels is that you will have a smaller empire but as long it is quality like ours thats fine and it is often only after liberalism (with rifles et al) that you grow to be the biggest.
Thoughts
We have (95% chance) a scinetist next turn and we can either save him to partilaly bulb education (he will produce more beakers this way) or just bulb him on philosophy and hand research education. Another one from Antium will follow fairly soon after.
I would basically build (not whip!!) macemen (anywhere!) a couple of medic Pikes for protection (from Cumae so they have medic 1 straight away) and trebs anwyhere fior the next 10 turns at whihc point attack pericles.
Research wise go down the Liberlsim till 1 turn from completion line) whihc will be alot more than 10 turns.
It is about to get fun again as we will soon go back to war!!