Is Agile Project Management different?

Interesting, Partially I agree with you: many techniques and fundamental principles were used before Agile was formally defined. The best examples is the iterative and incremental software development method used (documented) in late 50s, kanban and kaizen.
In my experience moving from planned delivery to Agile approach will change people. It develops initiative, self management skills and most importantly the team spirit. In my experience the hardest thing for people that have long experience with planned approach where they are told what to do, is to start taking initiatives, think outside the box and provide feedback, especially highlight things that can be improved.
There are people that are Agile by nature, people that like change and to challenge the status quo. I hope that I am wrong but they are a small minority comparing with the others,