There’s another explanation for why the history books display that progression you mapped out: They are Dutch history books, so naturally they want to focus on the bits of history that are especially relevant to the Dutch. One should expect that the “center of action” of these books drifts towards the Netherlands over time, just as it drifts towards the USA over time in the USA, and (I would predict) towards Indonesia over time in Indonesia, towards Japan over time in Japan, etc.
Sure! I don’t think the fact that Dutch history books end in the Netherlands is good evidence that the Netherlands is the most significant place in world history :)
But Ancient Egypt, Classical Greece and Classical Rome do seem to be of global significance. Greek ideas and inventions, from Aristotle to the Antikythera mechanism, do seem to be lasting and unique. And a bit harsher: the Greeks conquered Egypt. The Romans conquered Greece and Egypt. The balance of power actually seems to have shifted in that direction.
There’s another explanation for why the history books display that progression you mapped out: They are Dutch history books, so naturally they want to focus on the bits of history that are especially relevant to the Dutch. One should expect that the “center of action” of these books drifts towards the Netherlands over time, just as it drifts towards the USA over time in the USA, and (I would predict) towards Indonesia over time in Indonesia, towards Japan over time in Japan, etc.
Sure! I don’t think the fact that Dutch history books end in the Netherlands is good evidence that the Netherlands is the most significant place in world history :)
But Ancient Egypt, Classical Greece and Classical Rome do seem to be of global significance. Greek ideas and inventions, from Aristotle to the Antikythera mechanism, do seem to be lasting and unique. And a bit harsher: the Greeks conquered Egypt. The Romans conquered Greece and Egypt. The balance of power actually seems to have shifted in that direction.