It has nothing to do with the idealising of war or the materialising of trade; it is a distinction in the primary purpose.

Muxlim's story might have been a glorious failure, but David J. Cord's book is, even in its idealising, simply brilliant".

Idealizing Marcus Aurelius, Romanos aspired to be a new "philosopher king", and similarly desired to imitate the military prowess of Trajan.

Helped along by some splendid female characters (who seem to be the only unbamboozled ones), Courtine slowly uncovers the fact that his resolute idealizing of Alfred is a way of protecting himself.