Islamic civilization took over from Roman civilization from about 632 AD in the Middle East, centered around North Africa, Iraq/Persia, and Turkey at various ti

Islamic civilization took over from Roman civilization from about 632 AD in the Middle East, centered around North Africa, Iraq/Persia, and Turkey at various times over the next 1300 yrs. Perhaps more important was the Sui/Tang dynasties in China around 600 AD kicking off over 1000 yrs of being the most developed place on Earth. They built the Grand Canal connecting the Yellow and Yangtse rivers, turning them into a single economy based on trading rice for coal.