Both Java and Britain had competing factions for power. Scotland and England, shared dominion of a single isle. Spain and France could attempt to mess about with local dynastic politics, but unlike Java there were no attempts by powers from the other end of the World to get involved.

The Christian Reformation provoked extremely vicious wars and the righteous justification for crimes such as murder, rape and piracy. This was also true of Islam at certain times, and the real influence of Islam in the European Religious Reformation is understated by most historians.

These 'Taliban Style' fanatics funded private armies to enslave the peoples of America, small parts of Africa and vast areas of Asia. Robber barons invested in shipping and quickly established factories or pirate bases.

CHRONOLOGY
1497 John Cabot claims Newfoundland (fish).
1498 Vasco Da Gama reaches India.
1562 First voyage of John Hawkins to West Indies.
1580 Drake returns from his voyage round the World.
1600 Charter of East India Company
1612 Factory of EIC established at Surat.
1655 Jamaica conquored.
1696 Calcutta founded.
1792-1815 Vast exchanges of colonial territory
1940-1960 Dismantling of colonial empires.

The English colonised America, fought off the French with the aid of helpful natives who were brutalised by their contact, and then lost the colonies by high handed behaviour. The Dutch had been collaborators with the English, even providing a King at a critical stage of history. The VOC (Vereenighde Oostindishche Companie) was a Dutch counterpart of the British East India Company.

The capitalist seeks monopoly with the same zeal that the islamic fanatic seeks monotheism. Sharika, or partnership is bad, and a Tawahid, or unity, or a single monopoly is the only thing which will satisfy a modern businessman. With modern weapons of thought control these people are quite capeable of destroying the world.

The recent money laundering scandals reveal that they have not lost the art of plundering the world.