You guys have to think back then people's opinions are much different. I think because it's due to not have communications.. today, you often hear the saying "it's a small world.." or "global village".. but back in those days they thought any race that didnt live in big towns or act "civilized" like themselves savages. Not much is known, hence, through ignorance, people can behave the way they did.. by going around and either converting or conquering everything not similar.
Today in our global village, such actions would put you on an international tribunal for genocide and crimes against humanities.
While i feel sorry for the races, may they be aborigines of australia, zulus of africa, indians of the american continent, aztecs or the americas.. or even the native folks of japan's northern most island.. the fact of the matter is, at that time, expansion and conquering new territory was all that's on people's mind. I bet if those races were in the position of power like england or france they would go around conquering others too. Heck, they squabble over tiny areas of land amongst themselves even!
However, judging actions of the past by today's standard isn't fair since we are grown up in a multicultural society that teaches us to respect those who are different since they have something great to give, and if we all work together we will all benefit. It's a totally different era..
As for the arguement over who is greater because they invented things.. well, let's just say if the guy didnt invented the wheel back then, eventually someone else would. It's just the social shift will start once people discover more things.. like irrigation and farming, which enabled people to live in big towns. Living together in large groups and socialising will spread idea, create more competition to excel, hence, a lot of progress. It's just lucky for the super powers back then to have developed the right social order to pave the way for progress..
I mean heck, if Arestotle (spelling?) wasn't born like the way he was, when he was.. and his philosophical way of thinking didnt spread throughout ancient greece, then to rome, then to the entire european continent, you might find a totally different world today.
It's like Darwin's theory of evolution, he wasn't the only one working on the topic.. but he fortunately made it public sooner than a few others who had the same idea.. civilazations will always advance given enough time. It's a bit hard to explain my point.. i dont mean to say people's accomplishment doesnt mean anything or isnt important. What i mean is that dont say "oh we are so great because we discovered so and so".. it isnt like others CAN'T eventually discover that themselves.
Like rocket science, Americans refined it from germans.. and made it on the moon first. But now every other world power has the capability to launch into space.. heck, even Australia can do it!

So enough with the who is better crap.. we are all humans, and are gifted with the naturual curiosty and intellect.. given the right circumstances, we can all excel equally.