Humanity has been rapidly advancing throughout recorded history. We just gloss over advancements in outdated technology. Who cares about when exactly the stirrup was invented when we have cars. Medieval armor was vastly better than what was available in the Roman Empire, but it didn’t just suddenly jump to better there was a host of minor innovations.
The amazing complexity in rigging seen in the age of sail is built on a long line of innovation, but engines rendered it largely irrelevant etc. As such ~1700 isn’t some clear tipping point, just the horizon before which innovation seems less relevant.
I’m aware, but that was a spike in industry in the English speaking world not innovation. Instead they started to innovate on things we care about today. It was largely associated with Englands colonial exploits rather than some new way of thinking. Many of the technologies and infrastructure associated with the industrial revolution don’t line up particularly neatly. The English system of locks for example started to take off roughly 100 years earlier.
So sure if your taking a test someone will slap a specific date range on the Industrial Revolution, but that’s not particularly meaningful here.
The amazing complexity in rigging seen in the age of sail is built on a long line of innovation, but engines rendered it largely irrelevant etc. As such ~1700 isn’t some clear tipping point, just the horizon before which innovation seems less relevant.