What if the Dutch Golden Age had gone differently?

A small republic becomes the 17th century's laboratory of finance, shipping, optics and painting.

If it had gone differently: The century's workshop of new institutions and instruments never opens; those inventions arrive slower and elsewhere.

1. 1600The chartered East India companies, European trade with Asia stays a matter of small merchant convoys; no company-states, no gunboat empires.
2. 1600The Scientific Revolution, Natural philosophy stays deferential to the ancients; no method, no acceleration.
3. 1688The Glorious Revolution, The English crown keeps its arbitrary power over taxes and courts; property and lending stay risky.
4. 1694The Bank of England is founded, Capital stays scarce and expensive; there is no deep pool of credit for canals, mines and mills.