I really enjoyed your overview and detail. I have found it hard to have some macro level historical discussions with people who cannot understand the human need to "redraw borders" every century or two.

I recall reading how disappointed Mussolini was when he went to "war" with Africans who only had spears and shields and not enough "roman" blood was spilt! He wanted a bloody war to go down in History - Italian blood.

You can even delve into the B.C. era of Caesar's expansion into Europe & Brittanica and so on .. and then every continent.

I like how you contemplate the importance that the current Leaders put upon their Historical "heroes" and how that motivates their current decision making.

Thank you for the post.