Literally how am I supposed to survive

[CrimsonNeko 1]

I'm playing a smaller nation, Potidea on the 550 BC campaign, and nations will just declare war on me and kill me immediately and there's nothing I can do. I have an army, so they're not sensing I'm weak, and even when I have allies, they lose too, so I just get taken out instantly when all I want is to build my economy. How am I supposed to survive when nations will declare war on me for no reason and they ALWAYS have a bigger army than me with better stats? I try to have mine match the battle width, even though I don't exactly understand that mechanic or how I'm supposed to build efficient armies.

[Question 22]

I haven't still started a One Province challenge (or under 10).As I did many times in AoH2. 

However, I will suggest you to use diplomacy very smart. And it will give you the breathing time you need. For now Even with my bigger countries I had no problem with neighbouring countries attacking me. Only, if I forget to check on them in the diplomacy tab. Because after some time the relations go from +70 to 0. That's why you have regularly check your relations. 

If you do this I promise you, you can build your economy, no problemo without having wars. Choose your rivals, to be absurdly far away from you(for the extra legacy points).

About the Army width, myself included don't have any idea how this affects the battles. At the beginning I minded it. Now after I have no worries about Gold or else. I Build Armies with over 160 units in them (double from this 80x width 40x-front line 40x-second). Still haven't noticed anything xD.

I guess Lukasz can clarify what does the army width does.