This book is a compendium of drastic changes that occurred in the fortunes of nations in the last 500 years. Seventeenth century China and India held one half of the world's wealth. Europe was crazy for Chinese silks, porcelain, tea and India's artifacts, muslins, printed calicos and spices. Portugal's lucrative trade with the East enticed other maritime Europeans. It was the trading companies which laid foundations of colonialism. Britain exploited India until it was rendered a basket case. Europeans and the United States ganged up against China which blocked their clandestine opium trade and profited from post-war reparations. Spanish conquistadors smashed exquisite Aztec and Inca kingdoms to establish Spanish rule. Spain enriched from South America's gold and silver, began eyeing North America. An alarmed Britain established colonies on the east coast. These colonies prospered but Britain lost them due to her fiscal and patronizing policies. Unfortunately for her natives, Britain selected Australia to exile her convicts. African slaves were introduced to fully exploit the colonies. Colonials deployed draconian laws to suppress dissent to their despotic rule. Their inhuman treatment of natives of the colonies reveals a darker side of European civilization.