If we were following the same themes earlier and in Eurasia rather then the Americas

http://www.economist.com/news/books-and-arts/21661564-ambitious-work-pushes-world-historys-focus-eastward-brilliant-threads

&

http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2015/may/21/great-and-beautiful-lost-kingdoms/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NYR+Lost+kingdoms+elections+outer+space&utm_content=NYR+Lost+kingdoms+elections+outer+space+%7B0%7DCID_bf5f8d60165cbe6549db6e1bfb0e30e3&utm_source=Email%20marketing%20software&utm_term=The%20Great%20and%20Beautiful%20Lost%20Kingdoms