Sorry I didn't get a chance to comment earlier. But for me Monte is the king of whipping... due to his excellent UB. That means cities need lots of food which means you can't aford too many cottages since they replace farms. I know that is contrary to the advice others have been giving you.
Key techs are :
a) Currency for markets and ability to run merchants and built wealth... that will get you out of the economic mire.
b) Code of Laws for your UB (
of 
) which also solves city maintainace costs and gives 2 EPs... Ignore the Caste System until you get Pacifism and then there are some great tricks to pull with Monte since he's Spiritual. Just run Caste System and Pacifism for few turns then back to Slavery and Organised Religion to build more buildings.
c) Civil Service needed to chain irrigate. I can't see your maps properly but you need to plan where your chain of farms need to go before building any cottages that might need to be cleared later. Getting fresh water to a city can make a huge difference to its size in the middle game.
Key techs are :
a) Currency for markets and ability to run merchants and built wealth... that will get you out of the economic mire.
b) Code of Laws for your UB (
of ) which also solves city maintainace costs and gives 2 EPs... Ignore the Caste System until you get Pacifism and then there are some great tricks to pull with Monte since he's Spiritual. Just run Caste System and Pacifism for few turns then back to Slavery and Organised Religion to build more buildings.c) Civil Service needed to chain irrigate. I can't see your maps properly but you need to plan where your chain of farms need to go before building any cottages that might need to be cleared later. Getting fresh water to a city can make a huge difference to its size in the middle game.
