The common long term patterns are of emergence of a sole superpower protecting the known seas. The two emergent dominant powers are linked at the point of their emergence by a time period of one age. I would also compare the British Empire and Europe to Ancient Greece, with Napoleonic and Victorian times comparable to Alexander and the Hellenistic Age. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellenistic_civilization shows some similarities to how Greek language spread like English around the known world.

Sparta looks a possible historical parallel for Russia and the USSR http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History...3rd_century_BC is interesting, especially comparing Lenin to Cleomenes http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleomenes_III, Stalin to Nabis http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nabis and the defeat by Rome with the end of the Cold War. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History...ention_of_Rome