Interesting read, TPC, but how do you support the notion that "Graeco-Roman civilization" is not the backbone of today's "Western civilization"? After all, European nations and their American offspring are heavily influenced not only by the Roman law mentioned above, but also by Hellenic philosophers, by Hellenic and Roman art, architecture and technology etc., not to forget the language. Of course, there are other influences en masse as well as the respective native cultures, but Roman and Hellenic culture is certainly a very important part of all modern European cultures, different though they may be.