The tech tree does not provide a lot of interesting choices. Eventually you will research everything and all Empires follow basically the same technological development, just at different speeds. But the Incas and the Zulus are clear examples of cultures that followed very different technological pathways than Europe or East Asia.


If you want to play the Zulus true to the historical Zulu Empire, you will have to make an effort not to progress too fast scientifically, which is boring as it basically eliminates one aspect of the game.


It would be far more interesting to have alternative pathways through the tech tree, for example Eurasian, Sub-Saharan and New World branches in early eras. In later eras different branches might distinguish "major powers" with technologically advanced units vs Empires that have to rely on alternative military strategies like guerrilla warfare.