Industrialization Before Guns?

Let's say that gunpowder's discovery in the world is delayed for some time for whatever reason. Would it have been possible for Europe/other areas to start industrializing without the discovery of gunpowder? How would you imagine such a world looking?
 
I don't think there's anything particularly necessary about gunpowder for industrialization, but I'm not sure what industrialization would look like without explosives for mining. Industrialization requires lots of iron and steel, and I don't think iron ore can be mined effectively without explosives. So I think we'll see one of two things:

1) Another non-gunpower explosive is developed for mining purposes. Eventually, people realize it can be used for weapons, and firearms are developed. I think in the end this would look very much like OTL but maybe with a little bit cruder weapons.

2) Some other mining technique is developed that doesn't require explosives. I'm guessing lots of ridiculously cheap slave labour fuels the mining necessary for industrialization. Maybe eventually, the slaves are replaced by giant rock-drilling machines. I can't see as extensive industrialization as OTL this way as, as far as I know drilling is a lot less efficient than explosives for mining. This might be an interesting world to explore, although I'm not sure how you'd be able to prevent the discovery of explosives....
 
Let's say that gunpowder's discovery in the world is delayed for some time for whatever reason. Would it have been possible for Europe/other areas to start industrializing without the discovery of gunpowder? How would you imagine such a world looking?

Certainly Europe could have industrialized prior to the introduction of gunpowder, but eventually the necessary knowledge will be obtained from the Chinese or whoever else has it if the Europeans don't discover it on their own (as in OTL) and gunpowder weapons will be adopted and improved. The result, in technological terms, won't be much different than OTL.

The major effect of a delayed introduction of gunpowder will be that Europe's technological advantage over non-Europeans will be less pronounced, leading to slower European expansion into the rest of the world. Countries such as Ethiopia and Thailand might escape European domination altogether, possibly even becoming regional powers. Others, such as the Inca and Aztecs, might have held out longer and even survived as political entities. So the political makeup of this Earth will be much different, although exactly how much is open to question.
 
It would require the exact same things given how gunpowder really isn't necessary for the rapid fire urbanization, farming innovations, financial capital accumulation, and the other basics of a capitalist economy.
 
I don't think there's anything particularly necessary about gunpowder for industrialization, but I'm not sure what industrialization would look like without explosives for mining. Industrialization requires lots of iron and steel, and I don't think iron ore can be mined effectively without explosives. So I think we'll see one of two things:

1) Another non-gunpower explosive is developed for mining purposes. Eventually, people realize it can be used for weapons, and firearms are developed. I think in the end this would look very much like OTL but maybe with a little bit cruder weapons.

2) Some other mining technique is developed that doesn't require explosives. I'm guessing lots of ridiculously cheap slave labour fuels the mining necessary for industrialization. Maybe eventually, the slaves are replaced by giant rock-drilling machines. I can't see as extensive industrialization as OTL this way as, as far as I know drilling is a lot less efficient than explosives for mining. This might be an interesting world to explore, although I'm not sure how you'd be able to prevent the discovery of explosives....

The OP didn't say anything about other explosives, so we can assume their discovery and use proceeds as in OTL. The only change was that the introduction of gunpowder to Europe was to be delayed until after industrialization had begun.

Without gunpowder mining will be much more labor-intensive until the introduction of nitroglycerin, nitrocellulose, and other high explosives, as you stated. However, going from nitrocellulose to nitro powders is not simple or easy and it is likely black powder will be discovered and employed first, as in OTL.
 
What effect do you think industrialization would have on the knight/nobility in terms of their armor and swords?
 
What effect do you think industrialization would have on the knight in terms of their armor and swords?

Well for one thing the knights as a class may be heavily involved in the business aspects of industrialization. They're the perfect economic group to act as a group of moderate capital holders capable of pooling it to invest in industrial production. In terms of military their role may quickly evaporate as they get to the same level of wealth as the traditional upper class.
 
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