Contemporary idiocy

There seems to be a presumption among historians that the ancient world was significantly different from the contemporary world:  it seems to be assumed that in the ancient world, people were simpler, more noble, incapable of deceit.  

Following from this, scholars seem to enjoy believing that the Gospels are historical narratives because, of course, a simpler, more noble, guileless people couldn’t possibly write biographical narratives of a person who they knew did not exist.  

 Scholars also seem to enjoy the belief that these simple, more noble, guileless people couldn’t possibly coordinate textual insertions to construct a plausible historical context for this otherwise entirely undocumented hero.

It makes you wonder who the simple people are.