Why did the industrial revolution not happen way earlier in the Roman Empire?

by LookingForMyCar

The Roman Empire was its time ahead in so many subjects, a forerunner in many fields and had all thing needed to build a steam engine. Why did not a single person think of putting them together and start the industrial revolution centuries earlier? The Greek mathematician Hero of Alexandria from Roman Egypt even published a description of a steam-powered device. Why was there ultimately no use for it during his time?

WelfOnTheShelf

We get this question pretty often! Here is a recent answer by u/Iphikrates that goes into why the Romans couldn't have industrialized:

Someone on an Ask Reddit thread claimed research indicates that prior to Ptolemy VIII exiling academics from the Library of Alexandra, "they were only about ~300 years from full on industrialization." Is this true? If so, where can I learn more about it?

and another by u/LuxArdens

“The Roman Empire was closer to an industrial revolution than you think.” I’ve read/heard something like this numerous times. Is there any truth to it?