I haven't seen this yet, and I'm pretty sure it's impossible right now, but I'd thought I'd throw it out there anyway, for rumination.
It'd be nice if at the edge of your territory, there would be an independant village, that you could interact with, trade with, etc. You have no control over them, totally AI controled, they are subject to same conditions you are, they could get wiped out, while you survive, etc.
Just be interesting.
We kind of do have that already, as in the trading ships that come by.
No one wants to be our neighbors. That's why we are banished! ;D