The Qing was indeed the longest lasting dynasty. Sad how Puyi was cheated out of things by the Japanese. Also equally so in how he met his fate. Cancer in the middle of a police station while being besieged by the Red Guard would not be a fun thing. Especially since the government had pardoned him.



Though, compared to former European dynastic houses Puyi's relatives and heirs lived rather modestly (and un-harrased, but modest is the point I'll be pointing at). Where the current heir to the House of Napoleon and other lines are banking, the Aisin-Gioro clan have managed succesful careers, in what I feel are more respectable areas (teachers, geology. Though one was a street sweeper but that's another bag of worms).



BUT NOE BEFORE THIS TURNS INTO A DISCUSSION OF COMMUNISM VS EVERYTHING ELSE.





I'm more for the middle east in terms of Historical Importance since that's where European civilization began. Period. Iraq was where the first nation/city-states were born, around the first farms on the Tigris and Euphrates. Where the three fundamental Judiac religions were born (Judiasm, Christianity, and Islam) and taught.



The region has experienced a lot of immense things and firsts. One of the earlier Caliphates in the region being the first to adopt a working Welfare systems. It's kind of also where the Greek and Roman Empire died. And being at a cultural cross-roads, they picked up a lot of ideas and concepts there from both East and West to be the most advanced chunk of sand, rock, and grass this side of Afghanistan.



The ancient peoples of the Fertile Crescent proceed everything in the west.