The wrong kind of details: the components of wonder (aka lmp's rant)

[The Silver-shod Muse]

...the details that come from elaborating the world as a sociologist or civil engineer will probably kill the wonder.

Maybe I'm reading this all wrong, (in which case I wouldn't be surprised) but I don't think this statement is really valid. If you have ever read 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, a novel written in first person from the POV of a naturalist, you'll see what I mean. The thwarting of a civil engineer or sociologist's logic in Faerieland could, if written correctly, be quite interesting. The wonder of a situation lying outside of science (provided there is such a thing even in Faerieland) would likely be greater viewed through a pragmatic sociologist's eyes than through the eyes of a person that believes him/herself to be intrisically inclined to such "magic".

...why didn't the economic center agitate for more rights?

Because so much of the economic center was tied up in slaves who had absolutely no say in the political center (they comprised something like 30% of the population at one point, though I don't think this number applies specifically Athens) even after they were freed.

[DISCLAIMER] Most of the above statement is based on the later Roman condition, so it may or may not apply in its entirety to Athens)

[ August 14, 2002: Message edited by: The Silver-shod Muse ]