Areas of expansion: your choices?

[bovi]

I expand in whatever direction I have an enemy, and raid whoever needs a smack to not get too powerful. I see no reason to follow historical expansion when the world in general doesn't. If Pahlava is expanding into western africa at a time when Qarthadast historically was busy with the romans but are at peace now, I believe they would rather turn their eyes to the new threat in the east. Generally, the world does work more or less as it historically happened since we strive to make the AI behave that way, but at some point there will be some wild things happening.