Humans develop their full cognitive potential in an environment that is complex & challenging, without being overwhelming. Similarly, the big technological leaps of past civilizations have occurred in response to environmental constraints that were challenging, but not too harsh.

A lack of challenges and hardships is just as big an obstacle to the realization of one's potential as facing hardships so tough they cannot be overcome. This applies to individuals and cultures alike.

In the first few millennia of the history of civilization, natural environmental constraints were the main driver of (and limit to) human ingenuity. New technology arose from the need to survive in challenging environments.

Starting in the Antiquity, inter-cultural conflict & cooperation replaced nature as the main catalyser of progress. War, trade, competition started shaping the curriculum of civilization.

I would go as far as saying that the particular environmental and historical circumstances of a civilization program the direction and speed of its progress in an almost deterministic way

The need to rise up to the existential challenge of climate change will likely guide the next chapter of our progress over the next few centuries