[Cronos]

And, um, the entire Western Hemisphere.

Well, that is debatable. The Incas did have a pretty high civilisation as did the Mayas before them. The Spaniards of 1500 were of a higher civilisation but as high as say the other Europeans in what is now the US and Canada (native American tribes WERE pretty primitive by any standards), so, changing my post #592:

Western Europe brought civilisation to Sub saharan Africa, north America and Australasia.

Don't get me wrong Western Europe did civilise those parts, but to say that it brought civilisation to the eastern parts of the Eurasian continent or even to north Africa and the Middle East and eastern Europe is a laugh.

[Cronos]

Rephrasing #598

The Spaniards of 1500 were of a higher civilisation than the Incas. But the other Europeans in what is now the US and Canada were of a far higher civilisation than the native American tribes that roamed there.