Choosing the Tutorial is probably the best way to get an understanding of the nuances of the game, especially design & construction.
You can access the tutorial from the main menu.
Oh, if you've come over to SE4 from MOO3, SE's tutorial is much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much better.
Afterall, running the Tuorial is what got me hooked into buying SE4 in the first place!