Maybe I'm being too harsh based on my experience.
The wood is not so easy to cut, except for certain maps.
Even so in the campaigns there should be bonus if you do some secondary quest.
AOE 2 campaigns you have this.
I'm thiking even in Bar_Kokhba_revolt crushed by Hadrian.
Maccabeans is a great time for jews, because they faced Antiochus IV Epiphanes.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiochus_IV_Epiphanes