On Monarch, I can have just 8 cities and still win the Space Race with spaceship production coming from only 4 cities. The AI has most of the technology first but takes so long to build all the spaceship parts.
Instead, the AI prefers to launch world wars in the modern age. All the major civs will be merrily invading one another, leaving me to build up my spaceship in peace. If the AI puts the same priority in building spaceship parts as building Wonders, the Space Race would be much more challenging.
Well cmon, us poor humans have to have some sort of a chance
In monarch(regent) I can make it to the early modern age before my AI neighbor takes it upon themselves to wipe me off the earth, as their tanks roll over my infantry
I dont know how you manage to stay at peace with them, they get real irrate near the endgame.
I still have to build more confidence in Warlord (which I can win easily) lol
As long as you keep trading stuff to the AI, and pay them tributes whenevver they asked for it, you should be able to keep the peace. After all, I have only 8 cities then, merely a minor civ. In fact, modern techs can be sold for 50 gold/turn or more and if it keeps the AI happy, why not?