The new kind of scientific activity emerged only in a few countries of Western Europe, and it was restricted to that small area for about two hundred years.
Your question from the following paragraph:
[W]hat factors caused the rapid accumulation of knowledge in specifically only a few countries and for only those two hundred years?
suggests that you interpreted the quote to mean “The new kind of scientific activity was restricted to the few countries of Western Europe where it emerged, and a period of about two hundred years [before dying out/being replaced by new kinds of scientific activity].” This would suggest that we should look for causes in Western Europe at the beginning and end of this time period.
I interpreted it to mean “After emerging in a few countries of Western Europe, the new scientific activity was restricted to that small area for two hundred years [before spreading to other areas]”. This would suggest that causes are to be found in Western Europe at the beginning of this time period, and in the rest of the world at the end of it.
You have read the whole work and not just isolated quotes, so you are much more familiar with the context. Do you think as a whole it supports your parsing over mine?
I think I parsed this quote differently than you.
Your question from the following paragraph:
suggests that you interpreted the quote to mean “The new kind of scientific activity was restricted to the few countries of Western Europe where it emerged, and a period of about two hundred years [before dying out/being replaced by new kinds of scientific activity].” This would suggest that we should look for causes in Western Europe at the beginning and end of this time period.
I interpreted it to mean “After emerging in a few countries of Western Europe, the new scientific activity was restricted to that small area for two hundred years [before spreading to other areas]”. This would suggest that causes are to be found in Western Europe at the beginning of this time period, and in the rest of the world at the end of it.
You have read the whole work and not just isolated quotes, so you are much more familiar with the context. Do you think as a whole it supports your parsing over mine?
Nope, I think you’re just plain right. I parsed that poorly. Thanks for point that out! I should make an edit.