Western science never formed in a vacuum. It's always been a continuance of knowledge. Imperialism plays a huge part, because a stable empire with security tends to rise the life of its citizens and result in a greater scholarly presence, but scientific advancement and knowledge is not some strange, magical thing that only appeared in one place at one time due to magical butt fairies or whatever the hell else you're ascribing. It's standing on the shoulders of the ones who came before you, who stand on the shoulders of those before them.

It was not normal for a tiny peninsula on the edge of the Eurasian landmass to, in a few centuries, go from being a global backwater to dominating the world

It absolutely is if you understand your history. That pissy little kingdom around the Palatine hill did exactly that. That tiny spit at Aigai surrounded by the big boys. And also I think you're conflating "scientific revolution" with shipbuilding and trade there bud.