The environment of 1700 seems likely to share more characteristics with 1750 than 1600. Whether these people were famous during or _just before_ the IR does not

The environment of 1700 seems likely to share more characteristics with 1750 than 1600. Whether these people were famous during or _just before_ the IR does not change my point. Steam engines were invented many times during and before the IR. What allowed the IR to happen was more likely coal, I think.