There was a lot more innovation in Europe, particularly in military technology, in the 17th-19th centuries, due to many smaller states competing against each-other, compared to the Ottoman Empire and China. That's why Europe was able to so easily subjugate China.
> to many smaller states competing against each-other, compared to the Ottoman Empire and China
Did wars really have a positive impact on that though? I don't think the 30 years war etc. had such a positive impact, rather it probably slowed down progress by quite a bit.