[clee1]

And how little they did with it.

But that was due to Politico-religious reasons more than anything else.

[RicocheT]

"And how little they did with it.

But that was due to Politico-religious reasons more than anything else."

Don't underestimate the effect human slavery had on the classical world. When you have cheap labor, the elite can focus on ease, recreation and status seeking. Science and the practical world then are ignored.

[muir_redwoods]

"But that was due to Politico-religious reasons more than anything else."

They also had very dark, clear skies. No telescopes, it's true but night skies any astronomer would pay dearly for.