Steampunk: Point-of-Divergence

From what I can deduct, it was roughly around the year 1700 that steam powered devices began to come into prominence - leading to the Industrial Revolution that would occur later in the century.

So, in general, the 1700s would be a little too early to place a steampunk setting in - and a little too late to place a clockpunk setting in.

In “our” world, the first Industrial Revolution is said to have begun around the year 1760 - but, in the steampunk universe, it could maybe take place around three or four decades prior… because of two influential scientists/inventors to speed up the process.

The point-of-divergence would be around 1698, when Thomas Savery invented the first practical steam engine - which had, shortly thereafter, influenced an aspiring scientist/inventor… who ended up creating a steam-powered device that would save an infant from death, who would also grow to become a scientist/inventor.


Regarding Thomas Savery's invention, this actually works perfectly with separating steampunk from clockpunk. I haven’t even figured out the main story for my clockpunk setting yet, although I’m thinking it would take place in 1689 - precisely two centuries prior to that of the main story in the steampunk setting.

However, in the clockpunk setting, the point-of-divergence takes place about two centuries prior - when Christopher Columbus passed away before he could set foot in the Americas, which also led to a change of career path for Leonardo de Vinci.

Thomas Savery’s inventions takes place after nine years after the main story in the clockpunk (technically, clockpunk+solarpunk) setting would occur. Probably shortly thereafter would be when two major scientists/inventors would come to prominence. The elder would save the life of the younger (as an infant) via a makeshift steam device. The elder, after having been told by many people that their inventions would never work, gains a renewed confidence in themself to continue with their invention ideas. The younger grows up to become interested in advancing steam technology, having been inspired by hearing about the steam device that had prevented their death in infancy.


Three things Thomas Edison have been known for inventing are the incandescent lamp, the phonograph, and motion photography. His rival was Nikola Tesla, who had come up with an alternative form of lighting. From what I understand, Thomas Edison also had a bit of an ego and wasn’t a very nice guy.

If we figure out that the point-of-divergence was about roughly a century prior, Thomas Edison wouldn’t be needed to invent any of that stuff. The lighting technology would predate that of Nikola Tesla, as well - but the first form of lighting to displace gas-based lighting would resemble that of tesla lighting, but it wouldn’t be called that. Maybe it was Nikola Tesla in his immediately prior life who invented it, and people were more willing to listen to him. Photography (based on several earlier inventions) could probably still be invented around the year 1800 (or maybe even slightly earlier) - and, due to the more rapid advancement of technology, it wouldn’t be much of a stretch to figure that some inventor (who isn’t Edison) somewhere would come up with the idea of motion photography.

Music boxes were invented in the 18th Century - so, again, it wouldn’t be much of a stretch to figure out that some inventor (who isn’t Edison) somewhere would come up with the idea of the phonograph. And than, some point thereafter, combine the technology of the phonograph and motion photography to create motion photography with sound.

The steam engine gained prominence around the mid-to-late 18th Century, which is what would then set the catalyst in motion for steam technology. I'm thinking it would be a case of someone who didn’t survive past infancy in “our” world did in the steampunk universe, and maybe even that it was a makeshift steam device that saved their life.