They were not culture where this was considered "good". Earlier centuries their ethics were not ours, but especially these interpersonal competite issues were considered ethical issues by them. Hence people pissed off be these.

It is completely absurd to make up imaginary past ethical systems. I am all for looking at past standards, but make them actual past standards. The way you do it makes all involved sound dumb.

Moreover offtopic: sometimes genius 'misunderstood' by group of people is actually group of people having healthy boundaries and acting rationally. And the while conflict starts to make sense instead of comming accross as "people in past were ridiculous".