I made a timeline

It's of selected events that I decided was important to the rise of the Western world today. It's surprising how recent the roots of many Great nations today can be traced back to. 

(The inline display AA makes it kind of hard to read, right click view image instead)

Britain didn't even become the leading power until the 19th century (well into the industrial revolution) and its hegemony ended almost within one lifetime.

The Americans like to brag about defeating an empire but at the time of the American Revolutionary war Britain was nowhere near the height of its power yet and it had its hands full trying to prevent a French (the major power at the time) invasion of its mainlands and its Caribbean territories.