How is the AoE experience? And I can play with a friend like a co-op whitout being whit other people online?

Hi, I recently discovered this game, and as I was seeing it's very interesting to grow up your own civilization, but lets don't forget that I'm just a beginer in this world of the strategic games and also I haven't played such a game in my entire life; I just want to play with a friend a game in wich I can decide all the things that I want in my civilization, literally begin in 0, and by the way attack my friend or have peace treaties, alliances with other kingdoms, and at the same time being in a entire world with some AI, my friend and I, like being in a new planet earth and being the emperor of some new kindom and fight or being in peace with another kindoms, or something like that.

Thanks your attention, and my mother tongue isn't English, it's my first post in Reddit and also in this community :D