Ganked by Gandhi: This really is a small island...

2160bc: Optics discovered - previously useless boats now have a purpose!

A small man, with lank greasy hair strides boldly across the marbled floor. In his hand he holds a brass tube that glints in the dim candlelight. He stops before a raised dais, upon which stands a simple oak chair, upon which sits the hunched figure of Gandhi. The man bows, revealing the start of bald patch. 'I have it my lord!' The man exclaims, rising. Gandhi gestures wearily and the man hands him the brass tube. 'The answer my lord, a way off this island...' 

That figure you see in the background, that's the colossus.
I think it just about captures my stature. 

I tried to be clever, i tried to time the discovery of optics with the completion of the colossus and a new settler. Even after chopping and changing the distribution of the population in Delhi nearly every turn I was still nowhere near. Anyway, my starting island was limited in resources which isn't going to help my diplomatic efforts. I need something to offer after all. With Optics discovered I send my lonely warrior off scouting over the seas while my settlers are produced (by this I assume the game means born, raised and brainwashed into believing they can go it alone, which takes about eight turns apparently). A suitable site is found for a reasonably productive second city and the settler is dispatched.

1880bc: Calender Discovered - people start to wonder who Christ is and why they are counting down to his birth.

1840bc: Ancient ruins (how much more ancient than 1840bc can you get) are found and explored. Strange markings on the wall turn out to be a form of Writing. After years of painstaking translation the writing reads 'Tresspassers will be prosecuted.'

If I'm one of the first empires these must be
left by Aliens, surely! That's science!

1440bc: Mumbai founded - undesirable elements of Dehli are encouraged to settle in the new city.

To the bottom of my starting island is a city state, Cape Town. With a new city built my population become  unhappy and I need the growth to continue to support my economic drive. I am forced to spend my shiny gold things on making Cape Town happy. The residents of said city state seem to love the sea going life and spend most of their days diving for pearls, which, now India and Cape Town are allies, they trade with us generously. With necklaces around their neck, the Indian people are happy once again, at least for a while. I did consider declaring Cape Town 'under my protection' but decided that as I can't even consider my own empire as under my protection it's probably a bad idea.

Over the next few hundred years I coast along, accumulating money and technologies steadily, exploring the world and trading with Persia. Every choice I make is geared toward making me money. Everything was going fine and exactly to plan until... 

875bc: Great Library Built - Now just need to find some books to fill it. 

650bc: Ottoman empire sends envoy - Gandhi quickly establishes trade routes to milk them dry. He may be peaceful but his economic polices are ruthless.

450bc: Stockholm requests military aid - Basket of muffins sent instead.

I really would but my warrior is currently busy right now! Sorry!

150bc: Explores find white cold stuff - Sledges invented soon after.

Gandhi stares out over the ocean, the cool wind chilling his skin. Dehli lies beneath him, a vast sprawling city that hugs the coast. 'My Lord!' An aid calls, panting heavily from the climb, 'An envoy has arrived, from a Genghis Khan. His lands reside across the oceans to the north'. 

'Tell me,' Gandhi enquires, 'what sort of man is he?'

'Well... he is ruthlessly aggressive, a warlord, who thrives on annihilating his enemies wherever he can find them.'

'Oh...' Gandhi replies, 'balls!'

Yes sir, anything sir... just please don't hurt me!