Assume a world in which nobody has discovered gunpowder by 1900. Obviously, it would be nearly unrecognizable to us, and trying to nail down the specifics would be a fool's errand.
That said, what developments might still proceed more or less on pace with history, in a world with no gunpowder? Technological, cultural, economic, political, etc.
For example, the printing press is likely still on pace to come about around the same time, so you'd still have widespread knowledge and literacy vastly changing society, and leveling it. However, gunpwoder was also a great leveler that worked in tandem with pritning.
Compasses are still a go, so Eurasian discovery of America is still likely, and the disease exchange is still massively in favor of the Eurasians. That said, gunpowder certainly helped maintain that edge.
Just two starting points for discussion.
That said, what developments might still proceed more or less on pace with history, in a world with no gunpowder? Technological, cultural, economic, political, etc.
For example, the printing press is likely still on pace to come about around the same time, so you'd still have widespread knowledge and literacy vastly changing society, and leveling it. However, gunpwoder was also a great leveler that worked in tandem with pritning.
Compasses are still a go, so Eurasian discovery of America is still likely, and the disease exchange is still massively in favor of the Eurasians. That said, gunpowder certainly helped maintain that edge.
Just two starting points for discussion.