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How could we have an 1800s style world by say the 1650s? By this is mean diplomacy between countries such as china and japan trading almost equally with the European powers and even forming their own spheres of influence and maybe in japans case an empire?

Maybe Zang He's expiditions turn out differently if China can become more capitalist in the century before and thus trying to find markets to trade to in Africa and Arabia (and maybe trying to go around the cape i'm not sure if they would though); then perhaps in a few decades they come into contact with the Portuguese and maybe a war over the cape?

An Iberian crusade aided by the budding maritime powers in the north could lead to the pacific being explored much earlier and prevent Europe from eclipsing Asia militarily.

I'm not sure if this would work but the general idea is that the world shrinks much sooner and China and Japan remain great powers throughout the 1600 and 1700s with the ability to play the great game and even trading with countries in Europe equally unlike how the Portuguese, English and Dutch traded with them.
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