if you are interested there is a code you can enter an the ai will play your civ for you.  Which becomes a spectator mode. 

This a thread on the console, the one you need is not listed but if you type help, it will show you the rest.  I do not have the game running but it is ai something.  Then do autoplay.

https://forums.galciv3.com/453079/page/1/#3504022

the command you want in the console is toggleai

this start/stop the ai playing as the local player

That would be helpful. If I could edit the alliances at the start of the game like GC2 that would make it perfect.