I would suggest that the crudest of human societies are those held together by force. This is quite natural. It is close to the animal world. In societies constructed on principles of force, people are governed by fear. Alliances form based on mutual self-interest.
Oaths of allegiance are common.
The virtues of cunning, strength, and loyalty are taught, and revenge is the motivating principle. Stories that teach fear as the primary human reality teach people to act out of personal passion, getting what they want because they can get it, without much regard for those they don't need or fear. Promises characteristically take the form of threats. The paradigmatic relationship is that between master and slave. Many narratives in both history and literature examine the way fear can lead to a desire for law.