Hm mm interesting concept CaroleC. The lessons of history you seem to dismiss as not affecting the present are:

1:When you can no longer survive by living on it you move or die.

2:If you cannot defend it, some other group who can will come and take it from you.

3:If you attack and recover control over it, you had better get ready for the next armed group who will try and take it from you.

4:If you don't form alliances with friends other groups will, and eventually become strong enough to have another go at you.

5:Appeasement will not protect you or stop your enemies from assaulting you.

6:Those who ignore these facts are written up in the history books as extinct.

I can just picture the dilemma of my ancestors; who if they knew it at the time would see one third painted blue and warring with another third; while the rest would be waiting in the sidelines to fight over and take control of what was left alive after the battle. ;-)