A documentary that I watched fairly recently made that very point, and showed a professional story teller in a tea room, in Syria a few years back, retelling the story of "The Battle of Hattin" (one of the more serious defeats inflicted on the Crusaders by Salah AdDin, or Saladin, in 1187). It was clear that it was a story that the assembled patrons in the tea room knew by heart.
Genealogy is one of the Tenants, and founding Principals of the Mormon Church. Those folks have the largest Genealogy Database on this Rock. If you want to research your Family Heritage, check out your local Mormon Family History Center. They will welcome ANYONE, who has an interest. .......