Starting out with a workshop is optional, you could try to get materials in notable locations first, so you can build a farm before a workshop, if you get lucky and start next to a old growth forest, you wont need a workshop. Instead of capitals producing 1 material(s), you could instead have it to where you could have a strength for the sovereign where he/she gets 1 material every 1/2 turns. 5 people to start with is not really needed and would not help speed it up. You can already start out with 2 sentinels and Jansuk. So that can give an early start.
