This list is of the civilizations from best to worst IN MY OPINION, and the reasons why they are so ranked:
1. Japanese-[Exalted] Ashigaru spam is really hard to defeat; shrines produce all the resources you'll ever need
2. British- Not really a civ for spamming; artillery, cavalry and infantry are all very strong
3. French- Coureur des Bois are fast gatherers; can have 3 forts
4. Spanish- Another all-round good civ
5. Indian- Pretty strong civilization
6. Dutch- Banks are very good at gathering coin
7. Iroquois-[Legendary] Field Cannons are good, and they have strong infantry and cavalry; this is the best native civ, but native civs have no walls, which is a setback
8. Portuguese- Great ships but land units are not that great
9. Sioux- All native ships get killed easily by European ships; no artillery or walls
10. Russian-[Imperial] Halberdier spam is almost endless, but if they get into late game the Russians get owned
11. Chinese- All round not a great civ
12. Ottoman- The only reason they aren't lower is because they can train spies in age 1
13. German- All round pretty weak civ
14. Aztecs- Only infantry? WTF?
What does your list look like?
1. Japanese-
2. British- Not really a civ for spamming; artillery, cavalry and infantry are all very strong
3. French- Coureur des Bois are fast gatherers; can have 3 forts
4. Spanish- Another all-round good civ
5. Indian- Pretty strong civilization
6. Dutch- Banks are very good at gathering coin
7. Iroquois-
8. Portuguese- Great ships but land units are not that great
9. Sioux- All native ships get killed easily by European ships; no artillery or walls
10. Russian-
11. Chinese- All round not a great civ
12. Ottoman- The only reason they aren't lower is because they can train spies in age 1
13. German- All round pretty weak civ
14. Aztecs- Only infantry? WTF?
What does your list look like?