Differences in the nations? (SP/MP)

[StSz]

Is there a difference between the nations?

For instance, are the Germans more productive than the Americans??? Or do they start with more advances?

I started a MP game (I think I was the host), and I had only 3 advances, while other players had 4 (initially)...
that was weird...

Or am I just hallucinating?

[Pedrunn]

Except for the cities and leaders names all the civs are the same. The other player just had luck since the advances are given randomly at the beggining of the game.

[Swissy]

I've seen that happen with the imbalance in advances. I've played diety games where I start with only two advances instead of three. Somehow in those games I always find a tech in the first or second ruins I trigger.