In this book, Peter F. Krough examines the major events and individuals which figured prominently in the movement of "centers of initiative" and of the world's "main axis of commerce and communication" from East to West over the last five hundred years. The book follows the westward migration of the world's "center of gravity" from China in the fifteenth century across Eurasia to the Near East, onward to Europe and then to America and, now, to the Pacific Rim. The focus is on historical figures who, by virtue of their vision and action, led the movement. It highlights what unfolds when a powerful idea is embraced by a formidable individual, who pursues the idea with uncommon ability and intensity. Along the way, the book identifies qualities that make for leadership on a grand scale which aspiring leaders may find instructive and even inspirational.