Hello to everyone I am new to the series..

[Saxon]

Yep, the demo allows you to do all of the basics. You can research up to level 4, but the highest level is 9.

You will love this game, may I suggest experiementing with magic, as it is wonderfully implimented in the game, but occasionally subtle.

You might also want to learn about Super Combatants, often Pretender Gods who become super powerful in combat. There is nothing quite like destroying a large enemy army single handed! It is a also a nice way to power early expansion and build up your territories.

Enjoy!