You can also play the Byzantines as, well, "Byzantine". Put out the emmisaries, spies, assasins, and marry out your princes to foreign princesses and put all the lands under the emperor again. (Emmisaries are 1/2 price)

Constantinople does well early with some farm buildup, some of the other areas (the islands) are not nearly as crucial to farm income and can be left until later. Cash comes from farming first, and later the big money comes from trade. Check out the Byz thread in the strategy section for where and what to build, remember you get your better troops in Early and High, with a drop in quality in late.

mfberg