Wrong assumptions and wrong strategy, our chosen path will be proven its worth. As for alliances we are very happy with our allies, we have allied with the mighty Carthage, might Greece and mighty Egypt, each and one of this factions is a power-horse, whit rome it makes four. While you alliances have 2or one at max power-horses in its alligment, it also as 2 or more dependent factions that will want more land to grow, meaning less growing power for the capabale of real damage ones.