the 'hot spots' of history

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   I have no idea if this has ever come up in academic work before, and due to my own limits i can only refer to the West...
here goes, chronologically 

- man began in africa

- civilisation began in the middle east

- europe was the next 'hot spot', its empires spreading across oceans

- the usa is currently the most significant source of cultural progress, for the whole world

basically, i wonder if certain geographical parts of the world enjoy status as a 'hot spot' for man's intellectual/social progression

when the usa has had it's day, where (rather than who) will lead the world next?

i understand this is very simplified, but clearly i am talking about millennia here 

where indo-china, latin america and australasia fit into this, i am hoping for suggestions 

thanks for listening

Edited by zeno - 19-Jun-2007 at 16:33