English is easy because you hear it everywhere (TV, music, movie) so you're learning it while not noticing.
Back on topic:
Scutarrii: that's why I enslave always in the beginning despite the lack of imediate cash. getting one or two cities up to the level for them is needed more. (see taking corduba)
No cavalry?? round shields are pretty good (most because of the experience bonusses from the shrines) especially compared to equites.
Your units can outrun most units so for chasing them down you don't even need equites.
I won't want to take Spain against Armenians or Pontus, Egypt and so on because of the lack of good cavalry or archers. But they are on the other sight of the map so what's the problem?
Your primary adversaries are the Carthaginians and the romans.
Romans: (pre marius) easy match because of the experiencesbonusses and warcry
Carthaginians: you get the fight the weaker parts (Corduba early one and Palma a little bit later.) the big beef is occupied with the Scippii.
short summary of my campaign:
started by taking the Numantia and Corduba as soon as possible. Put a lot of money in developping my economy. Armies consisted mostly of spanish mercenaries and cheap units. The mercenaries were actuelly my strongest units where my own units served for absorbing the first shock ( usually it's vice versa)because you can replenish your own but not the mercenaries.
The Gauls offered me to become their protectorate which was fine for me. No worries from the north, extra cash and I was not planning on attacking them soon.
Spain united and after having defeated several small Jullii invasion forces, my economy was ready for the next move: Island sneaking. I started by conquering Palma then Caralis and after Caralis I attacked sicily with a full stack army (see above )
Why sneaking: your navy is not that strong and will loose most seabattles. It's just made to endure a couple attacks and get the army where you want it.
It's a high rish, high gain tactic. I've lost a couple of generals and armies because of it. But landing on sicily and conquering it easily ( the main scippii armies were finishing Carthage)is quite a nice reward.
After sicily I conquered nothern-africa, not going more east than Lupis Magna to avoid Egypt. Italy was matter of slow methodical conquering one at a time.
Taking Rome was matter of manoeuvering and timing. The senate armies have to much experiencebonusses themselves to be easily defeated. But the stupid AI was always chasing some rebel scum to the west. So I landed a expendable general just next to them and let him build a fort. I was supposing that the extra turn the SPQR armies to build their rams would be enough for me to conquer Rome with my troops from Capua. It was a right guess. The SPQR actually didn't even attack my fort and just waited next to it.
Bye Bye Rome.
I did some other fun experiments (plague as way of city control, suicide general behind enemy lines,...)
which turned out right and now I'm about to finishing the game ( 12 more regions) which has been fun, strange ( Macedonia has been chased by the Greeks !!! ou of the Greece to Crete and nothern africa serving as the needed buffer between me and egypt)