I had read here that their impi could be a huge problem, so I decided to take my chances and rush them, hopin they had yet to connect their copper.  Luckily, they didn't even have bronze working!  I quickly took their second city, which had 1 warrior (and razed it - the civilians rushed to their capital to produce a couple arches).  I send pillaged the land arround the capital and left units on each of the squares, forcing the city to only work ocean squares.  After a couple turns of slowly weakining their few archers, the city was mine and the Zulu was gone while it was still B.C.

Since I now had control of my island/continent with no nearby rival, and I had already found 3 religions and built a few wonders, I decided to go the cultural root.  I started building wonders galore; the stone and marble resources were key to this strategy.  I also was first to circumnavigate the globe and was way ahead in tech than the rest of the world.  My tech bar was never below 80% and after the Zulu were destroyed it was at 90% and 10% espionage or culture (until later in the game, when it was pure culture).  I was great friends with everyone.

The russian empire fell to whatever the other civ on the north east island was and gliamesh fell to whatever the other civ on the north west island was.  I was trading techs like mad, giving into demands here and there, and the world loved me.  I was first in everything, except millitary and three of my cities were approaching legendary culture. 

My capitol reached it first and the other two were like 20 turns away.  Then, something terrible happend!  My good friends, the (I forget which ones - i hate this unrestricted leaders thing, i always forget whos who..... - my good friends were the ones who were sharing the south east island with the english) betrayed me!  They sneak attacked me, landing troops on my island by the billions!  I was done......my little army didn't stand a chance....and that was the end of me.....

Wow - that was long - hopefully its not to confusing lol.

I attacked our neighbor early and had pretty smooth sailing from there.  I destroyed Peter and made the English my vassal state.  I gave the English 3 of their cities back so I could move on to the next CIV, but then diplomatic victory came up, and I couldn't pass on it.  Nothing super-fancy.  I probably could have attacked someone earlier, but overall, I played well.