Questions About Civs' Aggression

[Theov]

Opportunity is a big factor in an AI declaring war or not.
The AI def looks at their military, then looks at your military and if you are deemed weak, they will demand animals, goods or smokes.
Or they park some guys with weapons at your borders and snag up some workers when they pass by.

I always make sure I got enough fighting power, otherwise the AI will just see me as a lame duck that will even wake Ghandi from his peaceful meditations.

 

[Theov]

Those are some great observations in the posts above.
I will surely look again at the agression setting in my mod.

 

[Ozymandias]

I'd like to note here that with Flintlock's patch you can nerf Agricultural civs by making their extra food from city centers be applicable for the despotism tile penalty as well, so they'd only get their bonus once they switch governments. That could already be all the nerf you need for their early game aggression.

You can also just go into the standard editor and remove the "-1" Food Penalty from Despotism.