I have a few questions about the game civilization IV. Anyone care to help?

First, how can I increase population rate?

Second, what does espionage do?



The game manual isn't in the box and I can't figure out the in game interface.. I've always relied on the kindness of strangers anyway so if anyone can help, I'd appreciate it.I have a few questions about the game civilization IV. Anyone care to help?
Population change is dependent on food supply. If the food supply coming into a city is exactly enough to feed the population in that city (I think each population unit eats 2 food), then all is well and the population does not change. If there is more food coming in than the population can eat, the population grows. If there is more demand for food than supply, then the population shrinks. Therefore, you want to maximize your food intake to expand your population faster. To facilitate this, build and improve farms, place your cities in places where food is plentiful, and so on. Keep in mind that you will often have to sacrifice other resources in the process, so while your population is growing faster, production and monetary income will suffer.



Espionage makes other governments in the game think more like yours, and makes it easier to convince cities that belong to other governments to secede and join your government. This is a very simplistic explanation, but a thorough explanation is too long to give here. - LJS