Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
This paper documents that the Rise of (Western) Europe between 1500 and 1850 is largely accounted for by the growth of European nations with access to the Atlantic, and especially by those nations that engaged in colonialism and long distance oceanic trade. Moreover, Atlantic ports grew much faster than other West European cities, including Mediterranean ports.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Acemoğlu et al. (2002) studied this question.