I usually try to stay on good terms with the AI controlled Civs, but it feels pretty much impossible. And it seems like they are only interested in one thing when it comes to talking with me: what is my score? If I got 400 points and they got 200, then they either automatically call me a war monger (regardless of what I have done) or want me open my borders and trade with them. These trades are rarely of any great benefit, as the AI really wants everything and the kitchen sink for every single luxury import.
I have progressed to playing on Prince (level 4), but it's starting to be a little hard to get on with everyone. I don't get nearly as many luxury items near my cities compared to the lower difficulty settings and everyone else is unwilling to trade with me, except with those previously mentioned exorbitant prices. It almost seems like the way they keep churning out Wonders, offering me crap trade deals and insulting me, like the game AI wants me to go on the warpath. Just conquer everyone one civilization after another!
I mean, seriously, how do you keep your own Civ's happiness from going negative when you don't have that many luxury items, no one will trade you for them and the buildings that produce happiness start adding up a whole lot of upkeep? I can usually make five or six cities on my own, but after that my economy and happiness are in the crapper without much else to do except wait for Wonders and money producing buildings to finish building.
I got to go read a strategy guide for this game...