The first time I figured out there was some Group in control of this planet was after the research into Absinthe.
With many conflicts raging across the World there was will to outlaw Absinthe with nearly all governments immediate compliance.
Horror stories where manufactured and tall tales where spun about how drinking Absinthe will cause civilization to collapse due to its large content of thujone. All a head fake of course as we found out with molecular chemistry much later..
---------------
"We are the Borg. Existence, as you know it, is over. We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own. Resistance is futile."