But time has prologued again and again. let me read this. he is talking about how, for the west, it seems china, the ottoman empire, the muslim offshoot, japan, this was going these were going to be the nations that would nominate the next 500 years. the beginning of the 16th century, europe was destined to rise above the rest. however imposing and organized some of the oriental empires appeared by comparison with europe. they suffered the consequences of having a centralized authority, which insisted upon a uniformity of belief and practice, not only an official state religion, but also in commercial activities and weapons development. the lack of any such supreme authority in europe and the warlike rivalries among its various kingdoms and city states simulated a constant search for military improvements, which interacted fruitfully with the newer technological and commercial advances that were