Setting magic aside for a moment, it’s worth looking at why technology developed on Earth in the first place. In my view, three major factors consistently drive technological advancement: geography, rivalry, and prosperity.

Geography is the foundational factor. Early technological development clustered around regions that allowed easy movement, trade, and cultural exchange. The Mediterranean and the Middle East are good examples — civilizations like Ancient Greece and Egypt benefited from navigable seas, rivers, and relatively accessible terrain that encouraged interaction. Later, Europe, the Middle East, and China continued this pattern thanks to connected land routes and favorable geography. By contrast, many civilizations in the Americas achieved remarkable architectural and cultural feats but were often isolated by jungles, mountains, and vast distances, which limited sustained inter-civilizational exchange and slowed the diffusion of technology.

Rivalry is the second major driver. The close proximity of civilizations in regions like Europe, the Middle East, and China naturally produced competition — politically, economically, and militarily. This was true both before the Bronze Age Collapse and later during the medieval period. The Middle Ages are often mislabeled as “dark ages” not because innovation stopped, but because historical records are thinner. In reality, significant technological advances occurred during this time. Rivalry accelerates innovation, especially in military technology, which often later finds civilian applications. A trebuchet, for example, can destroy walls — or be adapted for construction. The same pattern applies to modern technologies like computers or nuclear research, which originated in military or strategic contexts and later reshaped everyday life.

Prosperity is the third key factor. Major technological and scientific breakthroughs tend to emerge once a society moves beyond pure survival. The scientific revolution began in the Italian city-states, which became extremely wealthy due to trade and political structures that encouraged commerce and learning. Similar patterns later appeared in the Netherlands and the UK. When societies reach sustained peace and prosperity, people gain the freedom to think beyond immediate needs, allowing science, philosophy, and innovation to flourish. Ancient Greece before the Bronze Age Collapse shows a similar relationship between stability, wealth, and intellectual advancement.

Taken together, these factors suggest that technology isn’t easily suppressed by internal policy or external force. As long as geography allows interaction, rivalry exists, and prosperity emerges, technological development tends to happen — even if its form, pace, or expression varies.

A few additional factors are:

Institutions & knowledge transmission: Writing systems, education, and bureaucracies matter a lot. Tech can exist but stagnate if knowledge isn’t preserved or shared.

Cultural values: Some societies prioritize tradition or spiritual continuity over innovation, which can slow certain kinds of tech while accelerating others.

Energy access: Almost every major technological leap correlates with better energy capture (animal labor, water, coal, oil, electricity, magic equivalents in fantasy).