You start off with a few soldiers, some Villagers, and precious few resources nearby. There are three enemy armies: Pergamum (red) and two Roman Armies (yellow and brown), all of which are Romans. Build an Archery Range and an Academy, and use your starting gold on some Composite Bowmen and Hoplites to crush the two Roman armies so you can take the gold in their lands. The Pergamum are the most advanced of your foes, but they're walled-in, and won't come looking for you until you break through the wall. You should have defeated the other two armies and reached the Iron Age before you do that.