Steven,

A book you might find interesting, as an objective contrast, is Gilbert Murray's; Five Stages of Greek Religion.

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/30250/30250-h/30250-h.htm

Machiavelli gives the pre-eminant point of view of someone in the center of the political evolution of the West, while Murray goes into its foundations.

As he observes them, Machiavelli seems almost sedate.