Janis Kenderdineyes definitely limited to Western. My knowledge
   of eastern and indian cultures is sorely lacking, alas, as well
   as other civilizations. But my original audience was someone who
   made the claim that "more advances in the past 400 years due to
   science than any other time in history" and, as much as I love
   science, I had to point out that, "no, it didn't really all
   start there." I'd love to be able to a complete connected
   history but I just don't know enough :) "