We often explore the idea of earlier steam power, and we often conflate it with two other ideas: an earlier industrial revolution and an earlier scientific revolution. I’ve noticed that, while the first does get lots of pushback, the latter doesn’t. Perhaps this is due to the adage that ‘science owes more to the steam engine than the steam engine owes science.’
Be that as it may, what if the steam engine came into wide use long before the modern scientific method is develped? Tinkerers come up with a useful steam engine, and use of it propagates throughout the known world. Should we assume that it will quickly lead to a scientific method as people tinker further with the engine? Or could the engine become widespread without further technological advancements?