How many decades ago? Because I seem to be able to trace a wealth gap dating back to days that may or may not have even happened. We don't know, because recording history on written paper was considered offensive. And religion itself isn't the best source of info, I get that, but Jesus's whole existence was supposed to be the whole magic trick of "feed a whole village with one loaf of bread". With the idea that the whole villiage was full of poor people, and he was providing aid against their hunger.

And in order for that to even be believable in any sense, you first have to be able to agree on the idea that a wealth gap between the elite and the poor was already in existence.

Again, not that religion is reliable in any official sense, but it does help paint the picture that shit's always been bad.