It would be interesting to think of which eras these non-Western ways of thinking/being intensified and why.

How about in 3121 when he says 'put on your Japanese robes and sandals.'

There was a lot of talk about Egypt and the pyramids in the concept of both the symbol album and Emancipation if I'm not mistaken. However, I never really saw the connection other than some imagery in videos and in the cd booklet.

O+> is where he started getting heavily influenced by Arabic culture

There's alot of Non-western elements after that but Middle Eastern is the major force.

"There once was this ball with the line straight down the middle.
One side was black and the other one white." from "Same December."

That's kind of "Zen."