My source is "The Victory of Reason" by Rodney Stark starting on page 131.

https://www.amazon.com/Victory-Reason-Christianity-Freedom-C...

> Diamond also attempts to explain why European, rather than Chinese, conquerors were the ones who did all the colonizing. This is a simple balkanization theory—Europe divided into many areas conducive to states, China formed a great homogenous core—that does not need lengthy restatement. Europe has a highly indented coastline with multiple large peninsulas, all of which developed independent languages, ethnic groups, and governments, plus two large islands.

Roberts' "The Triumph of the West"

https://www.amazon.com/Phoenix-Triumph-West-Press/dp/1842124...

has a quite different take on this. He says the difference comes from a different cultural perspective. It's been a long time since I read it, but I'll try to summarize it with the Chinese perspective was that phenomena could not be modeled. Everything was a unique creation. I.e. the behavior of a model could not be extrapolated to explain other behaviors, while the European perspective was always trying to explain things with models.

Another cultural difference was the European notion (intentional or otherwise) of free markets. This is expounded upon by another book, "The Victory of Reason" by Stark

https://www.amazon.com/Victory-Reason-Christianity-Freedom-C...

My own observation of history is that the key factor is recognition of and protection of the rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness produce massive technological progress and the uplifting of society.

Societies that recognize these rights thrive, those that do not, fall by the wayside as they are unable to compete.