People had things trying to kill them long before city states, and outside of a carefully controlled scenario, typical zombies are not really a massive threat. In Zombie Ranch’s case, if not for the fact that they have a value associated with their survival, it seems like people would take down zombies with no problem… Typically, the only real problem you have is lack of respect for the threat they are.

Sort of like Steve Irwin, who was ridiculously badass, but ended up not respecting the level of danger of the Ray, and was inadequately prepared for it… In the wrong situation, a zombie is going to be a serious and viable threat. So the wilds are like the earlier days, when people who wanted freedom banded together in order to give each other safety…

I think that the true difference between the safe zones and the wilds are less Safety, and more Luxury.