Why is this fact significant? Because it explains why the visions of Daniel and John describe a total of only eight such great powers.
وَمِنَ ٱلْمُهِمِّ جِدًّا إِدْرَاكُ هذَا ٱلْأَمْرِ لِأَنَّهُ يُسَاعِدُنَا أَنْ نَفْهَمَ لِمَاذَا تَأْتِي رُؤَى دَانِيَالَ وَيُوحَنَّا عَلَى ذِكْرِ ثَمَانٍ فَقَطْ مِنْ هذِهِ ٱلْقُوَى ٱلْعُظْمَى .‏