SMcM
Emperor
I wasn't trying to be rude, and I'm sorry if you took it that way. What I meant to suggest was that your personal interest in Italy was making you discount how distinct Phoenician and Maya city-states were--which, again, is every bit as much as Italy or Greece. Yes, popular history may be more familiar with European city-states--that's just the nature of popular history--but that doesn't change the fact that the Phoenician and Maya city-states were very distinct and the information is available to anyone who decides to seek it out. Also, I'd suspect that your average armchair historian is much more prepared to explain what made Athens and Sparta distinct versus Florence and Venice, yet we still only have one Greek civ.
I've read as much about Mayan city states as Italian ones probably. It's not down to any personal interest in history- as you concede, popular history is more familiar with these city states, that's my entire point. As for Greece, it's just an awkward civilization I think, especially with Gorgo representing the Spartans which I don't rate as a choice at all. I think an ancient Greece focused on Athens with Pericles as leader would be fine, thematically it works I think given the Delian league was very influential and Athens is the most populous and famous Greek city and at the heart of modern Greece. There isn't really an equivalent of Athens for Italy, I don't think any of the city states make for natural leaders of a united Italian civilization.