Peoples around the world have  been sharing ideas and technologies forever. China invented the printing press and paper before the European did. They had perfected the technology to make porcelain that  need very high temperature, and invented powder. Chinese adopted the robust strain of rice from Vietnam that could survive droughts and bad climate. They were the first civilization to develop grafting of fruits like apples, pears, peaches and plums among others as early as the XVI century.C.E.
Every time you enjoy your fruit remember that. India gave the world Buddhism philosophy, the best cotton in the world still, and crystallized sugar. Indonesia shared their spices and nutritious crops like sugar cane and bananas. The Middle East shared dates nuts, almonds, dried fruits, dyes, lapis lazuli, swords, Christianity and Islam, both religions based on compassion and love to all, independent of wealth, status or character. The Mediterranean basin gave gold coins, glassware, glazes, grapevines (cheers), jewelry, artworks, perfume, wool and linen textiles, olive oil. Meso America, the area of my ancestors had very well planed cities with channels to irrigate crops, a mathematical system that included zero, and a almost perfect calendar. We have not been very kind to each other all the time. There have been slaves, human sacrifices, wars, famine, but still my friends, we should be happy and thankful.

What was better for common people? Living under the rule of the absolute monarch the king of Persia or living in Rome or one of its colonies? I prefer the Romans. People living under the rule of the Persian emperor did not have any rights at all. The king was the maximum authority, owner of the land, the rivers, the animals and the life of the individuals. It was a very despotic system. In contrast, the  citizen of the Roman Empire were the fortunate ones who overtrew the king in 509 B.C.E., and organize a senate composed of patricians or aristocrats (only male and wealthy, but at least a start) that gave advice to two senators equivalent of the modern executive. The rest of the population were the woman of the patricians, the plebians or common people,  the free slaves, and the slaves. The plebeian  rebelled  and after some quarrels aquired the right of a tribune, or their own system of assemblies to represent them in the political system. The code of honor was universal, the value of one's own word was part of being Roman. It is not nice to have that code of honor? I love it.

History books are a lot fun, it is like a good gossip.