Some historians today assert that had the Song not fallen to the Mongols, China could have industrialized many centuries before Europe and conquered the world.
Song Dynasty: The Song Dynasty had no equal, with some estimates ranging from 50-70% of the world's GDP. It was an early modern economy, producing more steel in 1000 AD than all of Europe did in 1700. Its citizens were the richest, bar none. The compass, gunpowder, and printing were invented during this time. Some historians today assert that had the Song not fallen to the Mongols, China could have industrialized many centuries before Europe and conquered the world.