So here just a rough outline for this potential timeline. I'll probably change, add on or remove things has I go on.
Age of Steam
Beginning with the Industrial revolution at the end of the 18th century and the dawn of the 19th century. I am thinking that the changes wouldn't be too noticeable until around mid century. When the butterflies of the PoD begin to take full effect. Most noticeable either an alternate Crimea War or American Civil War, where both sides would be making use of
Grinder gun's, dirigibles with
wooden frames, armored steam cars and possibly even poison gas. Acting almost like a kind of pseudo prototype for the First World War of OTL.
The rest of the century sees these technologies further refined and new ones being developed. Including the earlier discovery of antibiotics and the ensuing medical discoveries and breakthroughs that came from it. Alongside actually exploring the consequences of such rapid technological and industrial development in a society still rooted in the ideals & views of the 19th century. With the likes of Africa and the of the colonial world getting hit even worse by European Colonialism. Thanks to the European's having an even greater technological advantage, not only militarily but also domestically. With everything from antibiotics to air-conditioning to improved logistics greatly improving the power projection abilities the European Great Power's. Though ironically I do want to delay the invention of barb wire.
As for the political landscape around the world three ideas pop into mind . The first being the earlier collapse of the Chinese Qing dynasty and rise of the Warlord Era. Thanks to the Qing's same inability to modernize as OTL and greater European technological advantage and interference. Leading to them taking out larger chunks of China compared to OTL and leaving behind a greater cultural influence. The second idea is America ending up more divided compared to OTL. With both Texas and California avoiding joining the United States, that became further divided in a much bloodier Civil War. Thanks to the Confederacy actually manage to again official support and recognition from the French & British. Alongside the native American tribes of Oklahoma managing to successfully break away into an independent neutral nation in the chaos. This actually plays a part of the third idea where Latin America actually manages to do a little better than OTL thanks to the much more divided nature of North America. With both Mexican and Spanish Empire's surviving and prospering thanks to the lack of US interference.
The Rise of Diesel
With the greater rate of technological advancement. Do to a combination of a slightly earlier start and larger population size. The internal combustion engine does get invented earlier. Though finding itself competing with far superior steam engines compared to OTL, that are also more ingrained. With the world not fully transitioning until the "Great War."
Breaking out over a decade ahead of OTL and merged with the other conflicts of the time (the Spanish-American War, Anglo-Boer War and Russo-Japanese War). The Great War of this timeline saw the transition away from the Steampunk of the 19th century to the dieselpunk of the twentieth. With steam powered tanks, planes can airships fighting their internal combustion counterparts on the field of battle. Not only in Europe but also in Asia, South America and North America, as the European alliance system having spread to those countries as well. (Currently I am tempted to have the war be a three way fight instead of just the usual two.)
Fighting with technology that wouldn't look too out of place of the OTL 1930's. With massive superheavy tanks rushing enemy trench lines. In away marking a transition from the brutal trench fighting of ww1 to the armored blitzkrieg of ww2, the same way it marks the transition from steampunk to dieselpunk. Where the tanks scene in it's final days not looking to out place from those found in WW2.
The aftermath of the war is rather nasty. With the following decades seeing an economic depression and the emergence of rival ideological movements. One being a much more technocratic and autocratic take on socialism, with some eugenics thrown in for good measure. While the other one can best be described as an unholy mix of Futurism, Ayn Rand Objectivism, Populism and Italian styled fascism. Alongside the rise of sky pirates across the world and mercenaries that fight them. Thanks to combination of soldiers unable to find work, horrible post War economic conditions, lots of surplus airships, planes & weapons from the war and the decline & even collapse of colonial authority in many parts of the world.
With various Civil Wars and similar conflicts being fought across the globe. The most noticeable being the unification of China and it driving out the remaining colonial forces, outside a few key trade cities. While in North America both the Confederacy and Canada havd been reduced to a minor rump states. With the United States taking most of their territory, along with the break away of Louisiana & Quebec respectively.
Fortunately things do gradually recover and a second Great War is avoided as a Cold War slowly emerges.
Dawn of the Atom
Nuclear Energy has a stronger start here. Thanks to combination of better engineering & material sciences when compared to OTL. Alongside the factor the public is generally more open to it. Do to the fact this world never had any event similar to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. With the energy applications being developed first instead of the destructive here. Leading it to becoming more widespread and developed compared to our timeline. Seeing the development of nuclear powered bullet trains for example.
This would also mark the begin of the space age. With this world seeing a more intense and competitive space race. To the point we see sky hooks, lunar labs/outposts and man missions to Mars by the 1970's. Partially do to the fact that the ideals behind colonialism didn't exactly die out here, with no WW2 & holocaust.
Cyberization
I don't have much here yet but I do want to keep the bulky aesthetic of the OTL 80's & 90's. With my best idea is that this world's internet can trace itself back to a series of national intranet system. That go back to the 19th century having originally used mechanical computers connected via telegraph lines. Combined with the idea that
vacuum channel transistors were developed and adopted in this world before the transistors. Causing computers to be more powerful but also bulkier. Plus touch screens might not get developed till after the turn of the millennium.
That's actually a rather interesting question. So far I have two possible options.
- A series of small changes during the late 18th century that aren't really noticeable at first but causes a cascade effect leading to greater industrialization, faster population growth and technological development.
- Have the French Court flirt with increased industrialization following the Seven Years War or American Revolution. As an attempt to try and recoup their economic loses domestically.
Admittedly it is difficult to find a solid Point of Divergence to point to for this idea.
Interesting! I'll have to check it out some more but an earlier period of space exploration would definitely fit the premise of this idea.