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 :) "