BTW, "Our magic doesn't travel" is a good reason for elves or other high-magic cultures (the ones that aren't 'balanced' with low-magic in any way) not taking over the world: they don't want it.

A real-world equivalent could have been if Earth didn't have fossil fuels; you could fairly easily still get electricity via hydropower in the 1800s or 1900s, but there would be less of it, and more tied to location (especially as a lower energy world would still be tied ports, rivers, and canals for transport). Within range of a water turbine you get electric lights and refrigeration and electric subways; elsewhere it's horses and dung. Which can lead to wars over the good resources, but perhaps the occupier is unassailable due to controlling the power.