The Almos start the game with 6 provinces and only 2 borders. The Iberian peninsula is rich in farmlands and you can conquer it easily as you have fewer borders to defend.

Civ AI isn't really great once you take out all the cheating the computer does. I prefer a stupid AI that doesn't cheat than an AI that cheats way too much. In fact, the AI there might even be worse than the AI in MTW. Reminds me of old RTS games where the AI have infinite money. I don't like the AI cheating blatantly. I'd rather have an easy game.