Good post Ish.
I would like to recommend people interested to read a book that has a nice view of things, backed in science. He talks about the migration of man, as well as social and technological changes that set the development of societies.
"Guns, Germs and Steel" by Jared Diamond.
Amazon.com: Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies: Books: Jared M. Diamond Guns Germs, & Steel: Home
He also gives a good example of how religions are started, as in the case of the "John Frum" religion in Papua, New Guinea.
John Frum - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Diamonds next book was very good also, titled "Collapse, How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed ."
Amazon.com: Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed: Books: Jared Diamond