The vihuela's popularity could not reach all of europe because

The Vihuela was developed in Spain in 16th century, at the same time the lute emerge as the favorite instrument of the aristocracy in nearly all of Europe which Spain did not favor much because they saw the lute as an instrument associated with the Moors. However, they appreciated the lute music script so they searched to find an instrument that could perform the same as a lute. The Spanish aristocrats took the Guitarra and added six double strings and it was enlarged and gave it to a new form from the older one played by the commons in Spain.

during the ming dynasty

these civilizations were located around fertile rivers, where they could produce an abundance of crops