My guess is - - -
That the steam engine had to wait for materials science and engineering to catch up.
That it was developed shortly after the materials necessary for more or less continuous operation came along.
Arf
Off Topic » in reply to The "what ifs" of history.
That the steam engine had to wait for materials science and engineering to catch up.
That it was developed shortly after the materials necessary for more or less continuous operation came along.
Arf