The Westerners are parochial about the West. No more, no less.<p>That's why they have very little knowledge of the great Empires of the East when Western Empires were, to put it mildly, piddling little affairs.<p>That's also why the Westerners have a Superiority Complex and think that are 'naturally' better than Asians, Africans, etc.<p>Whereas the 1900s were the 'American Century', the 2000s are going to be the 'Asian Century' with China and India (and several other Asian countries) going to be the king-pins, while Western countries are going the be the 'Poor and Sick Men' of the World. <i>But Westerners haven't understood that yet.</i> They are going to be shocked and depressed when that realisation finally hits home.