The obvious difference between then and now is intensive agriculture. In modern times, we don't need as much farmland per capita. I hate seeing productive farmland developed into mcmansions as much as anyone. But, the market values the mcmansions more.
Latifundia would have been a known concept to the historic peoples mentioned by GP and the ones GP is talking about purposefully rejected the practice. Local, small agriculture was a key aspect of culture and political power, insofar as the power to feed is the power to deny food.
