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Gunpowder Research Paper

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The invention of gunpowder
Have you ever wondered how gunpowder was invented? Or how gunpowder has been a huge turning point in warfare for everyone? Gunpowder has a very interesting history, many uses, and most importantly has changed warfare drastically.

Gunpowder was first invented in ancient China. The Chinese accidentally invented gunpowder while trying to make an elixir for immortality. Unknown by the Chinese at the time, this accident would make major history. The Chinese mixed charcoal, sulfur, and saltpeter to create gunpowder. After this accident, the Chinese used gunpowder to launch fireworks and other non-lethal objects. This accidental invention helped the Chinese because before the invention they just tried to outsmart the …show more content…

These arrows would be lit with a fuse and when they would hit the destination, it would light everything on fire. The arrows are the first use of gunpowder in war, this showed how effective gunpowder can be in battle so the Chinese made other weapons utilizing this explosive powder. The Chinese figured out that they needed two innovations to fully utilize gunpowder in rockets, first they would need a counter- balance to make sure that the rockets would have a straight trajectory. The second innovation needed is an efficient or easier way of drilling holes in the exact center of the gunpowder so it would burn evenly and would also allow the rockets to have a straight trajectory. They ended up making both innovations in the 12th and 13th centuries. Additionally the Chinese made something that would be very useful to them, …show more content…

by a Portuguese ship. Then the Portuguese got interested in this explosive powder. The Portuguese invented the cannon, made rifles, and made better innovations to their rifles than the Chinese or the Europeans. Then hundreds of years later the Europeans made trades with China for their more advanced and effective gunpowder. In the 14th century gunpowder also spread to Japan, Islam, and Europe. They all improved the powder for more lethal or military use and was a big reason that they won battles in the future. In Japan they secretly started to produce saltpeter and eventually, gunpowder. The silk road was actually a big part of the spreading of gunpowder and helped it travel to most areas. The Muslims also did work on the powder and even made their own, new

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