Well, I played. I wish I had nice cheery report full of good news...
Things were going well through the first 8 turns; I had gotten the economy back on track somewhat, from -7 gpt at 60% research, to breaking even at 70%. I

a few courthouses along the way, and am building markets and libraries. Built some temples too, because they are so cheap for us creative types (two turns usually).
When Civil Service came in, I chose to research Feudalism, thinking that Vassalage and Longbowmen would come in useful in a few more turns when we went back to war.
Then, in my ninth turn, TOKU DECLARES WAR ON US AND HIS TROOPS COME ROLLING IN TOWARDS HELIO AND PI-RAM.
His troops are mostly horse archers, axemen, spearmen, so the threat is in numbers and placement rather than tech level. That big stack of his north of P-Ram is something like 4 horse archers, 4 axemen and a spear. The stack of 3 directly north of P-Ram does include a cat.
We've got 4 units in Helio, a few in P-Ram and 5 (swords and cats) a turn or two away from Helio, coming from Memphis.
The save is in mid-turn (my tenth), because I figured I'd leave the troop movements to the next player, who'll be fighting this war.
Maybe we could talk our buddy FDR into helping us out?
Also, we can build the Epics, the Sistine Chapel... didn't start them anywhere yet.
Turn 181 (1210 AD)
Pasargadae grows: 12
Heliopolis finishes: Courthouse
Arbela finishes: Jewish Temple
Pi-Ramesses finishes: Christian Temple
Islam founded in a distant land
Turn 182 (1220 AD)
Heliopolis begins: Market
Arbela begins: Courthouse
Persepolis grows: 12
Arbela grows: 8
Turn 183 (1230 AD)
Pi-Ramesses grows: 4
Turn 184 (1240 AD)
Tech learned: Civil Service
Persepolis finishes: Market
Susa finishes: Courthouse
Turn 185 (1250 AD)
Research begun: Feudalism
Persepolis begins: Theatre
Susa begins: Market
Heliopolis begins: Theatre
Arbela finishes: Courthouse
Memphis finishes: Courthouse
Turn 186 (1260 AD)
Arbela begins: Library
Memphis begins: Library
Persepolis finishes: Theatre
Pasargadae finishes: Courthouse
Heliopolis grows: 12
Heliopolis finishes: Theatre
Memphis's borders expand
Turn 187 (1270 AD)
Persepolis begins: Colosseum
Pasargadae begins: Market
Heliopolis begins: Colosseum
Susa's borders expand
Arbela grows: 5
Turn 188 (1280 AD)
Persepolis finishes: Colosseum
Memphis grows: 4
IBT
Tokugawa declares war on Persia!
Turn 189 (1290 AD)
Persepolis begins: Catapult
Catapult promoted: Barrage I
Catapult promoted: Barrage I
Swordsman promoted: Combat I
Pi-Ramesses finishes: Swordsman
Turn 190 (1300 AD)
Pi-Ramesses begins: Catapult
edit: adding that one of the Japanese units is sitting on top of our GEM MINE! I'm sure they will pillage if they are not eliminated this turn.

. Also adding that Feudalism is due in 2 turns.