Egypt had a high culture that apparently included the study of
mathematics, geometry, and at least some astronomy, chemistry,
and physics. Why did this culture stagnate?
India had a Rich culture with an apparent emphais on
scholarship.Why did this culture fail to progress?
China's culture was far in advance of Greco-Roman
culture in many ways. What happened?
Arab culture was far in advence of early midieval culture
in astronomy and mathematics.
Japanese culture elected to turn its back on the west for
250 years.
OK, what about this theory? There are many examples of cultures
that apparently quit progressing, with no clear underlying
common reason. Eventually, one culture got to the "rational
breakthrough" and learned the scientific method. It could have
been any culture. Whatever culture got there first would have
taken over the world by spreading this method. The "West" just
happened to be first.