Actually, there were other lost opportunities, lots of them, some just as big as China's. The native population was literally here, occupying the place, giving them an enormous headstart on us, but they failed to hold onto what their ancestors had given them. Spain had an empire bigger than that of Ghengis Kahn, and they held it for 300 years, ultimately losing it all and winding up the poorest and most backward country in western Europe. History is full of lost opportunities.