1. Build ports (preferably in cities that have goods to trade), build roads, build trade related buildings (merhcant, market, forum etc). Sign trade agreements. Trade goes both over land and over sea, sea seems to be the most lucrative, but every little helps I say.
2. Gold and Silver are the minable materials, everything else are trade goods. Only provinces with Gold and Silver can build mines, as you've noticed, not all provinces have these preceious metals.
3. CHeck your economy summary, see how much you are earning and how high your costs are. If you are losing money, its because you have more troops than you can support. Alternaticly, it could be that your profits are not high, and you've just gone through an expensive construction spree that has emptied your coffers.
If you want cash quick, sell your maps to other factions, depending on how far away they are, and how friendly they are to you, you can get respectable amounts, anywhere from 4,000 - 12,000 in my experience, maybe more even.
Really though, most of the time your problem will be having too much cash, especialy if you are one of the major Med Powers.
4. Yes, unfortunatly. So use your archers carefully if you are worried about killing your own troops.
5.There will be an option in the city construction scroll to build a mine, and there is one upgrade. And thats it. Its not a fantastic amount (200-300 per turn or so IIRC), but it is constant and thus dependable.
Bah![This message has been edited by cymruwarrior (edited 11-18-2004 @ 07:27 PM).]