Gunpowder

Gunpowder was invented in China during the Song dynasty.  This was an important invention of the time period because it allowed the Chinese  to make rockets, grenades, firearms and landmines.  This helped them defend themselves from enemies who tried to invade China.  Early gunpowder was described as a mix of sulfur, charcoal and potassium nitrate (saltpeter).  The sulfur and charcoal were fuels and the saltpeter was an oxidizer.  Early forms of gunpowder are not used today, due to the fact that it is inefficient in its amount of resources and is not as potent as modern day pyrotechnics.

Gunpowder was created by Chinese alchemists who originally intended to create an elixir of immortality, instead they created the opposite.  It was first used in weapons such as grenades, mines, firearms, and rockets.  It was not used extensively, if at all during its early history simply because there was no need.  The times were peaceful and did not call for the manufacturing of new weaponry.  Gunpowder was used in fireworks that were then used in the celebration of some holidays and also for personal entertainment.  Prior to the invention, people were either ignorant to the fact that they could create an explosive powder, or simply didn't want to because they felt there was no need.

Gunpowder has has greatly impacted both modern and ancient countries alike.  It was and still is used for similar purposes, but today, there are a wider variety of low explosives, and high explosives.  It has always been used to propel things, whether it be a cartridge, rocket or stone.  Without gunpowder, things would be more difficult.  Mining would take a lot longer because every pebble would have to be mined by hand rather than thousands of cubic yards mined almost instantly with high explosives.  Hunting would require either getting close enough to an animal to stab it, or shooting it with a bow and arrow.  Wars would be fought primitively, causing many more casualties and not being resoled as quickly.  Gunpowder is the grandfather of modern pyrotechnics and it is to thank for many modern luxuries and resources.



http://www.themcs.org/weaponry/cannon/cannon.htm