What if Medieval China's commercial boom had gone differently?

Song China runs on paper money, printed books, canal trade, the compass and coal-fired iron.

If it had gone differently: China's medieval takeoff stalls; paper money, the compass and gunpowder stay isolated curiosities for centuries.

The real history on Wikipedia ↗

Later turning points that leaned on Medieval China's commercial boom. Change it in the game and the ripples reach all of these.

1. 105Paper is invented in Han China. Without it, The world writes on skin, silk and bark for another thousand years; the written word stays a luxury.
2. 900Gunpowder weapons in China. Without it, War stays a matter of walls, horses and bows; castles and cavalry keep their thousand-year dominance.
3. 1040Movable type in Song China. Without it, Printing stays a woodblock craft for the rare classic; no template for cheap mass text reaches anyone.