GUN

POWDER
THE CHEMISTRY OF GUNPOWDER
ORIGIN
It was only in the 13th century that Europe
became aware of the vital importance of
gunpowder and began to experiment with it.
The use of gunpowder probably reached Europe
due to the exposure of European armies to
Mongol attackers in the 13th century who
wielded gunpowder weapons.
WHY WAS GUNPOWDER INVENTED?
Gunpowder originally used by taoist as a medicine. It was also used
for creating fireworks that they believe would scare away bad
spirits.

Around 940 A.D Chinese invented gunpowder as a weapon that is

used against one of its famous enemies the Mongols
GUNPOWDER
AND WARFARE
The arrival of gunpowder radically transformed the
nature of military warfare in late medieval Europe.
Until the arrival of gunpowder, the knightly class had
remained the most important component of European
armies and an embodiment of the chivalric ideals.
GUNPOWDER AND
SOCIAL CHANGE
Before gunpowder, weapons were designed
around the limits of their users’ muscular
strength; after gunpowder, they were
designed more in response to tactical
demand.
GUNPOWDER WEAPONS

FLYING FIRE
POT-DE-FER
GUNPOWDER WEAPONS

FLYING FIRE
The Mongols were the
first to be subject to
flying fire — an arrow
fixed with a tube of
gunpowder that ignited
and would propel itself
across enemy lines.
GUNPOWDER WEAPONS

POT-DE-FER
An iron bottle with a
narrowed neck loaded
with gunpowder and
an arrow-like bolt,
feathered with iron.
FIN.