overwhelming numerical, technological, and industrial disadvantage, were able to drive Europeans out, doing such damage in the process that they refused to return. Even as Africa was plundered and it's people enslaved, there were places and people who, despite an. Asia went on it's merry little way, not a hint of the apocalypse in Europe.
the rest of the planet didn't really notice. As the western Roman empire fell, and Europe withered and died. Real life isn't like that, no matter what's going on in the world, there's always some good news or rising stars to be had. I'm not really aiming for a specific tone.