We've had two popes over 75 in succession (it's 1990 since we had a pope under 70) but equally most of the cardinals are quite elderly themselves now. Just one under 50 and 15 under 60. (View Post)
Yes, I do assume that, because that is what the evidence points to. Other organisations in the Middle Ages were far less capable of husbanding and improving their resources than the churches. As for … (View Post)
Ironically, with the exception of the pyramids we wouldn't have had the actual work any of the examples you cite, because it was the church that preserved them... (View Post)