General opinion on the martial arts today - origins

Hi

Im new to this whole blogging thing, but i had a few thoughts for a long time, wanted to write them down, and thought what the hell lets see what others think about them.
I am 22 years of age and have been studying the martial arts for the last 7-8 years. Have studied Shoto-Kan Karate, have done Muay Thai, Shaolin Kung Fu and now am studying Tai Mantis.
I have been very fortunate in that i have found some of the best teachers in India to train with. And i cant wait to surpass them :)
Anyway, i have been thinking alot about the current state of the martial arts in general. And i think to see where we are today we need to see where we came from. I dont agree with this entire hype that the martial arts originated in the shaolin temple or in india with Kalaripayatu. I find such claims absurd.
In my opinion the martial arts have existed ever since man has existed. When early man threw a spear, did it not require training and focus? Everyman has his own desires and this is bound to lead to conflict. This conflict could lead to physical confrontation. When man started living in societies, he came into contact with an odd phenomena. War. Wars whether large scale or small scale have occured since the first societies 10 years ago.
It was not always the biggest armies or the armies with the strongest men who won. Infact history is littered with instances where a small well trained, well armed force has defeated a larger force.
The shaolin temple was founded in the 5th century. Were there no great warriors before that? Was martial training not given before that? What about the spartans, some of the best trained warriors the world ahs ever seen.
Alexanders army defeated an overwhelming persian army. Because of tactics and how well trained the soldiers were.
Even claims that shaolin monks made the martial arts into a way of life, is something i dont agree with. If you break meditation down, its simply a way to expand oneself and focus. The human body and mind is capable of amazing things. Focs and training just help us to reach our own potential.
Good and effective technique is all about focus. The shaolin monks didnt invent focus. How can anyone invent focus.
What the shaolin monks could invent however was a system of martial arts. They made the techniques, both physical and internal. Soon those techniques multiplied until numerous forms of martial arts all existed in the shaolin temple. Same goes for Kalaripayat practitioners. It is not the mother of all martial arts. Just another style in the long list of styles.
Every country, every nation had its own way of training their army. And yes they could have borrowed alot from each other but that is where it ends.
There is a great mysticism around the shaolin temple because it founded the martial arts. There is indeed something special about the temple. And it does indeed deserve the reverance that people give it. I just feel people, especially martial artists, need to think about these thinks before spouting of these things as fact.