Medieval (about 476AD-1600’s)
26 Gunpowder in Medieval China
Elijah Hood
Introduction
Gunpowder based weaponry is ubiquitous in modern warfare. Be it in bullets, mortar shells, or torpedoes, gunpowder has been used to launch projectiles into enemy territory for hundreds of years. Bows, catapults, and all other early projectile weapons could also be launched from afar, but none of them were as effective. Gunpowder could launch things farther and faster while also keeping the projectile on fire. Early gunpowder didn’t explode, but would burn and wouldn’t be put out when shot on an arrow. Over the course of hundreds of years though, the formula was researched, understood, and changed to be more potent. This more reactive gunpowder led to the creation of early firearms and cannons. As these technologies were being developed, the Chinese used them to fend off the Mongols, who in turn used them to attack Northern Asia, West Europe, and the Middle East. Because of the Mongols’ conquest, the knowledge of gunpowder weapons spread like wildfire and became the staple of war we all know today.
Connection to STS
Before the invention of gunpowder and its application in war, the Mongols and their calvary were a terrifying threat for the Chinese. Using only infantry, bowmen, and catapults, it was difficult to fend off hundreds of men on horseback. Gunpowder slowly changed this dynamic though. After the discovery of gunpowder, bows and catapults were made better by their ability to carry fire, but that wasn’t enough. The need for a different weapon prompted the invention of the first firearms. Using one of these early guns, a single foot soldier could kill men and horses with ease. When you scaled up the size of the barrel, gunpowder, and projectile, you could take down walls with only a few cannonballs. These early guns and cannons greatly strengthened the Chinese military and gave them dominance over the Mongols. After a Chinese general defected and supplied the Mongols with guns, cannons, and other gunpowder weapons, the Mongols were able to capture dozens of towns and cities without any substantial losses (Haw, 2013). The result of these victories was not enduring Mongol supremacy, but instead the spread of gunpowder technology to everyone they conquered. Ultimately, gunpowder weapons were so much more destructive than other weapons at the time that they easily defeated and terrified any enemies.
Invention and early weapons
Gunpowder is essentially a mixture of sulfur, charcoal, and niter. Depending on the mixture you use, and most importantly the concentration of niter, the resulting gunpowder could burn softly for an extended period or flare and burn up instantly. Additionally, if the gunpowder is contained when ignited, it will explode. Not all of this was discovered at
once though. Early Chinese alchemists, seeking immortality, frequently used niter and sulfur in their experiments because they were viewed as complementary feminine and masculine ingredient