to keep the wizarding world somewhere around 1650 in terms of technology,
True, except, it seems, for the Howarts express. However, I'd've thought that if the muggle population increases due to improved infant mortality rates, then surely the percentage of muggle borns reaching Hogwarts would increase and with them an influx of muggle ideas to challenge the status quo of the pre-industrial WW.
bet aristocrats like the Malfoys (and probably the Potters as well) made their wealth from licenses along the lines of the East India Company.
Yes. That's the sort of thing I was implying. I'm sure they could be quite creative in muscling out the competition, especially if the competition were Muggles. That would also work for gold, silver and other mining operations.
I think that the prohibition between the Muggle and the Wizarding world was so profound
This leads me onto something else that keeps niggling at me. What about the reactions of muggle born landed gentry or royalty when the owl from Hogwarts arrives? If they didn't lock their more than strange child away, then said child may return as heir to an estate with notions of trade between the two, or is it expressly forbidden?
no subject
True, except, it seems, for the Howarts express. However, I'd've thought that if the muggle population increases due to improved infant mortality rates, then surely the percentage of muggle borns reaching Hogwarts would increase and with them an influx of muggle ideas to challenge the status quo of the pre-industrial WW.
bet aristocrats like the Malfoys (and probably the Potters as well) made their wealth from licenses along the lines of the East India Company.
Yes. That's the sort of thing I was implying. I'm sure they could be quite creative in muscling out the competition, especially if the competition were Muggles. That would also work for gold, silver and other mining operations.
I think that the prohibition between the Muggle and the Wizarding world was so profound
This leads me onto something else that keeps niggling at me. What about the reactions of muggle born landed gentry or royalty when the owl from Hogwarts arrives? If they didn't lock their more than strange child away, then said child may return as heir to an estate with notions of trade between the two, or is it expressly forbidden?