What if Venice's trade empire had gone differently?

Venice runs the luxury pipeline between Asia and Europe, and invents much of modern finance to do it.

If it had gone differently: Europe's window on Asian goods stays narrow and dear; the hunger that funds the Atlantic voyages is muted.

1. 1400The Italian Renaissance, Europe never rediscovers the classical world on its own terms; the break with the medieval mind comes later and shallower.
2. 1492Columbus reaches the Americas, The Atlantic stays a barrier for generations; Europe's empires grow east, not west.
3. 1498The sea route to India, Europe's trade with Asia stays overland and heavily taxed; the seaborne empires of the Dutch and English have no template.
4. 1694The Bank of England is founded, Capital stays scarce and expensive; there is no deep pool of credit for canals, mines and mills.