The Industrial Revolution in Great Britain in the middle of the 18th century marked the beginning of a technological gap that would define the political landscape of the world in favor of the European nations. This period supposed the creation of many devices that improved not only these regions economical activities but also the military, as European navies were able to settle in many parts throughout the world with relative ease. Improvements in weaponry gave Europans the edge when it came to conflicts with locals in different parts of the world.
European innovation did enable them them to dominate the world .European nations to eventually become the dominant force on Earth until quite recently I would say it had to be competition. The countries in Europe were locked in a near constant struggle for Dominance for hundreds of years and this caused them to seize upon anything that could give them an edge over their opponents whether it was military or economic in nature. This caused Europeans to seize upon what they thought might help them dominate their neighbors. One very obvious example may be the speed at which Europeans adopted and advanced a Chinese invention: Gunpowder. While China was content with their older designs or simply imported weapons, the Europeans (and to a lesser extent the Ottomans) were constantly advancing and trying to best their neighbors. They also tried to out trade and out explore their rivals to give them an advantage Economically. A good example of this is with the fights over who would rule the Americas in the late 17th and 18th centuries. These over seas colonies and trading partners made the Europeans even more wealthy.
