Gunpowder is a solid explosive mixture of crushed pieces of coal, sulfur and saltpeter. When the mixture is heated, sulfur ignites first (at 250 degrees), then it ignites the saltpeter. At a temperature of about 300 degrees, saltpeter begins to release oxygen, due to which the process of oxidation and combustion of substances mixed with it occurs. Coal is a fuel that delivers large amounts of high temperature gases. The gases begin to expand with enormous force in different directions, creating great pressure and creating an explosive effect. The Chinese were the first to invent gunpowder. There are assumptions that they and the Hindus discovered gunpowder 1.5 thousand years before the birth of Christ. The main component of gunpowder is saltpeter, which was abundant in ancient China. In areas rich in alkalis, it was found in its native form and looked like flakes of fallen snow. Saltpeter was often used instead of salt. When burning saltpeter with coal, the Chinese could often observe flashes. The Chinese physician Tao Hung-ching, who lived at the end of the 5th - beginning of the 6th centuries, first described the properties of saltpeter and it began to be used as a medicinal agent. Alchemists often used saltpeter in their experiments.
One of the first examples of gunpowder was invented by the Chinese alchemist Sun Sy-miao in the 7th century. Having prepared a mixture of saltpeter, sulfur and locus wood and heated it in a crucible, he received an unexpectedly strong flash of flame. The resulting gunpowder did not yet have a great explosive effect, then its composition was improved by other alchemists who established its main components: potassium nitrate, sulfur and coal. For several centuries, gunpowder was used for incendiary projectiles, called “ho pao,” which translates as “fireball.” The throwing machine threw an ignited projectile, which, when exploding, scattered burning particles. The Chinese invented firecrackers and fireworks. A bamboo stick filled with gunpowder was set on fire and launched into the sky. Later, when the quality of gunpowder improved, they began to use it as an explosive in land mines and hand grenades, but for a long time they could not figure out how to use the power of the gases generated by the combustion of gunpowder to throw cannonballs and bullets.
From China, the secret of making gunpowder came to the Arabs and Mongols. Already at the beginning of the 13th century, the Arabs, who had achieved the highest skill in pyrotechnics, staged fireworks of amazing beauty. From the Arabs, the secret of making gunpowder came to Byzantium, and then to the rest of Europe. Already in 1220, the European alchemist Mark the Greek wrote down the recipe for gunpowder in his treatise. Later Roger Bacon would write quite accurately about the composition of gunpowder; he was the first to mention gunpowder in European scientific sources. However, another 100 years passed until the recipe for gunpowder ceased to be a secret.
Legend connects the secondary discovery of gunpowder with the name of the monk Berthold Schwartz. In 1320, an alchemist, while conducting experiments, allegedly accidentally made a mixture of saltpeter, coal and sulfur and began to pound it in a mortar, and a spark flying from the hearth, hitting the mortar, led to an explosion, which was the discovery of gunpowder. Berthold Schwarz is credited with the idea of using gunpowder gases to throw stones and the invention of one of the first artillery pieces in Europe. However, the story with the monk is most likely just a legend. In the middle of the 14th century, cylindrical barrels appeared, from which they fired bullets and cannonballs. Weapons were divided into handguns and artillery. At the end of the 14th century, large-caliber barrels were forged from iron, intended for firing stone cannonballs. And the largest cannons, called bombards, were cast from bronze.
In the middle of the 14th century, cylindrical barrels appeared, from which they fired bullets and cannonballs. Weapons were divided into handguns and artillery. At the end of the 14th century, large-caliber barrels were forged from iron, intended for firing stone cannonballs. And the largest cannons, called bombards, were cast from bronze.
Despite the fact that gunpowder was invented in Europe much later, it was the Europeans who were able to derive the greatest benefit from this discovery. The consequence of the spread of gunpowder was not only the rapid development of military affairs, but also progress in many other areas of human knowledge and in such areas of human activity as mining, industry, mechanical engineering, chemistry, ballistics and much more. Today this discovery is used in rocket technology, where gunpowder is used as fuel. It is safe to say that the invention of gunpowder is the most important achievement of mankind.
Throughout the history of mankind, there have been many inventions that completely changed the course of history at one point or another. But only a few of them have significance on a planetary scale. The invention of gunpowder refers precisely to such rare discoveries that gave a great impetus to the emergence and development of new branches of science and industry. Therefore, every educated person should know where gunpowder was invented and in which country it was first used for military purposes.
Background to the appearance of gunpowder
For a long time, debates raged about when gunpowder was invented. Some attributed the recipe for the flammable substance to the Chinese, others believed that it was invented by Europeans, and only from there did it come to Asia. It is difficult to say with an accuracy of one year when gunpowder was invented, but China must definitely be considered its homeland.
Rare travelers who came to China in the Middle Ages noted the local residents’ love for noisy fun, accompanied by unusual and very loud explosions. The Chinese themselves were very amused by this action, but the Europeans inspired fear and horror. In fact, it was not gunpowder yet, but simply bamboo shoots thrown into the fire. After heating, the stems burst with a characteristic sound that was very similar to heavenly thunder.
The effect of exploding shoots gave food for thought to Chinese monks, who began conducting experiments on creating a similar substance from natural components.
History of invention
It is difficult to say in what year the Chinese invented gunpowder, but there is evidence that already in the sixth century the Chinese had an idea of a mixture of several components that burned with a bright flame.
The palm in the invention of gunpowder rightfully belongs to the monks of Taoist temples. Among them there were a lot of alchemists who constantly carried out experiments to create They combined various substances in different proportions, hoping one day to find the right combination. Some Chinese emperors were heavily dependent on these drugs; they dreamed of eternal life and did not hesitate to use dangerous mixtures. In the middle of the ninth century, one of the monks wrote a treatise in which he described almost all known elixirs and methods of their use. But this was not the most important thing - several lines of the treatise mentioned a dangerous elixir, which suddenly caught fire in the hands of the alchemists, causing them incredible pain. It was not possible to extinguish the flames, and the whole house burned down in a few minutes. It is these data that can put an end to the dispute about what year gunpowder was invented and where.
Although, until the tenth and eleventh centuries, gunpowder was not mass produced in China. By the beginning of the twelfth century, several Chinese scientific treatises had appeared detailing the components of gunpowder and the concentration required for combustion. It is worth clarifying that when gunpowder was invented, it was a flammable substance and could not explode.
Gunpowder composition
After the invention of gunpowder, the monks spent several years determining the ideal ratio of ingredients. After much trial and error, a mixture called the “fire potion” emerged, consisting of coal, sulfur and saltpeter. It was the last component that became decisive in establishing the homeland of the invention of gunpowder. The fact is that it is quite difficult to find saltpeter in nature, but in China it is found in great abundance in the soil. There are cases when it protruded onto the surface of the earth in a whitish coating up to three centimeters thick. Some Chinese chefs added saltpeter to food to improve taste instead of salt. They always noticed that when saltpeter got into the fire it caused bright flashes and intensified the burning.
Taoists knew about the properties of sulfur for a long time; it was often used for tricks, which the monks called “magic.” The last element of gunpowder, coal, has always been used to produce heat during combustion. It is therefore not surprising that these three substances became the basis of gunpowder.
Peaceful uses of gunpowder in China
At the time gunpowder was invented, the Chinese had no idea how great a discovery they had made. They decided to use the magical properties of the “fire potion” for colorful processions. Gunpowder became the main element of firecrackers and fireworks. Thanks to the right combination of ingredients in the mixture, thousands of lights flew into the air, turning the street parade into something very special.
But one should not assume that, having such an invention, the Chinese did not understand its importance in military affairs. Despite the fact that China was not an aggressor in the Middle Ages, it was in a state of constant defense of its borders. Neighboring nomadic tribes periodically raided the border Chinese provinces, and the invention of gunpowder could not have come at a better time. With its help, the Chinese consolidated their position in the Asian region for a long time.
Gunpowder: First military use by the Chinese
Europeans had long believed that the Chinese did not use gunpowder for military purposes. But in fact, these data are erroneous. There is written evidence that back in the third century, one of the famous Chinese commanders managed to defeat nomadic tribes with the help of gunpowder. He lured the enemies into a narrow gorge where charges had previously been planted. They were narrow clay pots filled with gunpowder and metal. Bamboo tubes with cords soaked in sulfur led to them. When the Chinese set them on fire, thunder struck, reflected several times by the walls of the gorge. Clods of earth, stones and metal pieces flew from under the nomads' feet. The terrible incident forced the aggressors to leave the border provinces of China for a long time.
From the eleventh to the thirteenth centuries, the Chinese improved their military capabilities with the use of gunpowder. They invented new types of weapons. The enemies were overtaken by shells launched from bamboo tubes and guns launched from a catapult. Thanks to their “fire potion,” the Chinese emerged victorious in almost all battles, and the fame of the unusual substance spread throughout the world.
Gunpowder leaves China: Arabs and Mongols begin to make gunpowder
Around the thirteenth century, the recipe for gunpowder fell into the hands of the Arabs and Mongols. According to one legend, the Arabs stole a treatise that contained a detailed description of the proportions of coal, sulfur and saltpeter necessary for the ideal mixture. In order to obtain this precious source of information, the Arabs destroyed an entire mountain monastery.
It is not known whether this was so, but already in the same century the Arabs designed the first cannon with gunpowder shells. It was quite imperfect and often maimed the soldiers themselves, but the effect of the weapon clearly covered the human losses.
"Greek fire": Byzantine gunpowder
According to historical sources, the recipe for gunpowder came from the Arabs to Byzantium. Local alchemists did a little work on the composition and began to use a flammable mixture called “Greek fire”. It showed itself successfully during the defense of the city, when fire from the pipes burned almost the entire enemy fleet.
It is not known for certain what was included in the “Greek fire”. His recipe was kept in the strictest confidence, but scientists suggest that the Byzantines used sulfur, oil, saltpeter, resin and oils.
Gunpowder in Europe: who invented it?
For a long time, Roger Bacon was considered the culprit behind the appearance of gunpowder in Europe. In the mid-thirteenth century, he became the first European to describe in a book all the recipes for making gunpowder. But the book was encrypted, and it was not possible to use it. If you want to know who invented gunpowder in Europe, history is the answer.
He was a monk and practiced alchemy for his benefit. At the beginning of the fourteenth century, he worked to determine the proportions of the substance from coal, sulfur and saltpeter. After much experimentation, he managed to grind the necessary components in a mortar in a proportion sufficient to cause an explosion. The blast wave almost sent the monk to the next world. But his invention marked the beginning of a new era in Europe - the era of firearms.
The first model of the “shooting mortar” was developed by the same Schwartz, for which he was sent to prison in order to not disclose the secret. But the monk was kidnapped and secretly transported to Germany, where he continued his experiments in improving firearms. How the inquisitive monk ended his life is still unknown. According to one version, he was blown up on a barrel of gunpowder; according to another, he died safely at a very old age. Be that as it may, gunpowder gave the Europeans great opportunities, which they did not fail to take advantage of.
The appearance of gunpowder in Rus'
Unfortunately, there are no surviving sources that would shed light on the history of the appearance of gunpowder in Rus'. The most popular version is considered to be borrowing the recipe from the Byzantines. Whether it really was so is unknown, but gunpowder in Rus' was called “potion”, and it had the consistency of powder. Firearms were first used at the end of the fourteenth century during the siege of Moscow. It is worth noting that the guns did not have much destructive power. They were used to intimidate the enemy and horses, which, due to smoke and roar, lost orientation in space, which sowed panic in the ranks of the attackers.
By the nineteenth century, gunpowder had become widespread, but its “golden” years were still ahead.
Smokeless powder recipe: who invented it?
The end of the nineteenth century was marked by the invention of new modifications of gunpowder. It should be clarified that for decades inventors have been trying to improve the combustible mixture. So in which country was smokeless gunpowder invented? Scientists believe it was in France. The inventor Viel managed to obtain pyroxylin gunpowder, which has a solid structure. His tests created a sensation; the advantages of the new substance were immediately noted by the military. The so-called smokeless powder had enormous strength, did not leave a soot and burned evenly. In Russia it was received three years later than in France. Moreover, the inventors worked independently of each other.
A few years later he proposed using nitroglycerin gunpowder, which has completely new characteristics, in the manufacture of projectiles. Later in the history of gunpowder there were many modifications and improvements, but each of them was designed to spread death over vast distances.
To this day, military inventors are doing serious work to create completely new types of gunpowder. Who knows, perhaps with its help in the future they will radically change the history of mankind more than once.
The great Chinese civilization gave the world a huge number of discoveries that made it possible to expand the boundaries of the world, improve the quality of life, acquire new knowledge, and have many useful devices to simplify work and increase productivity.
The Chinese are credited with four major inventions that significantly changed the world. Of course, there are many more inventions, but these are considered the main ones. These are paper, gunpowder and a compass. This theory was proposed by Joseph Needham in his book Four Great Inventions. So, great inventions of the chinese:
Paper . Paper was invented in China, which after some time conquered the whole world, displacing papyrus scrolls, clay tablets, parchment, bamboo and various other means of writing. The Chinese made paper from whatever they had at hand. They mixed old rags, remnants of tree bark, various waste from fishing nets, and from this mixture, pre-boiled and specially processed, sheets of paper were obtained. The Chinese used them not only for writing, but also for packaging. Business cards, paper money, toilet paper- the Chinese also came up with all this.
Vintage paper note
Typography. I spoke in detail about the emergence of book printing in the article “”. I will only note that the Chinese made a very large contribution to the emergence and spread of printing. They invented typefaces and were the first to use binding.
Typography
Gunpowder. Legend has it that gunpowder was created by accident when ancient alchemists were trying to make a mixture to achieve immortality. They mixed saltpeter, sulfur and charcoal and got gunpowder. Subsequently, when different metals were added to this mixture, different colors appeared, thus creating fireworks. Bamboo sticks with gunpowder were used for fireworks.
Fireworks
Compass. A very useful invention. When the whole world recognized the direction of movement and cardinal directions by the location of the heavenly bodies, the Chinese made full use of the compass. It’s curious, but at first the Chinese used this thing not for navigation, but for fortune telling. How and when this invention first saw the light is unknown. But the fact remains a fact. The Chinese began to make bucket-type compasses to determine the cardinal directions, and the basis of the compass was a magnet.
It is unknown how and when people discovered the properties of a magnet, but there is a legend that a certain shepherd noticed that metal objects were attracted to a black stone, this stone was called “magnet”. This is how it became known that some rocks have magnetic properties.
I have listed four main Chinese inventions, but there are many others, which will be discussed further.
The fork was used by the Chinese long before chopsticks appeared. And sticks, as the ancient legend says, appeared in the 11th century BC. It is believed that Emperor Di Xin was the first to use ivory.
Chinese chopsticks
Bells made of ceramics, later metal, were used in China 4000 years ago. They were not just a source of sound, but also played an important role in culture.
Antique Chinese bells.
The most ancient bells were found in the tomb of the 8th Marquis Su of the Jin Kingdom in Tsuizen. It was a set of sixteen pieces. Each of the bells produced 2 clear sounds, one if struck in the center, the other if struck close to the edge. These two tones differed by a minor or major third. Can you imagine how difficult it is to make such things? After all, a lot of conditions must be met: exact proportions, elasticity of the material, thickness, specific gravity, melting point and much more.
The Chinese used varnish about 7,000 years ago. The earliest varnished find was a red wooden bowl (ca. 5000-4500 BC)
Lacquered bowls
Do you think the steamer is a modern invention? The Chinese used the steamer 7,000 years ago. It consisted of two ceramic vessels. Most often in China, rice was steamed.
The Chinese consumed noodles 4,000 years ago. This was confirmed by archaeological excavations in Lajia, when an overturned bowl with remains of noodles was found. It managed to survive for so long because of the formation of a vacuum under the bowl.
Fermented drinks were known to the Chinese 9000 years ago! And about 3000 years ago, the Chinese created high alcohol beer, the alcohol content of which was more than 11% - an impossible thing at that time. For example, only in the 12th century did distilled alcohol appear in Europe.
Chinese silk
Silk! How can we not mention this magical fabric! Imperial fabric, as silk is often called. Even simply because at first this luxurious item was available only to the imperial family. There is a legend that tells how the wife of the Yellow Emperor was sitting in the garden with a cup of tea, and suddenly a silkworm cocoon fell next to her. The woman picked it up and began to unwind a thin, strong thread, and then the idea occurred to her that this thread could become the basis of a magical fabric. And so silk was born.
Chinese silk
The Chinese have kept the secret of silk production for 3000 years. Those who tried to take out cocoons or mulberry seeds were mercilessly executed. The price of silk was equal to the price of gold. The Chinese carefully kept the secret of production, but still very actively traded this fabric. Later, even the Great Silk Road appeared, along which there was a very active trade in various goods.
Acupuncture, the traditional medical practice of inserting needles, was introduced by the Chinese approximately 2000-2500 years ago.
Acupuncture
In the 2nd century AD, the ventilator was invented. Its author was master Ding Huang. By the way, the first fans appeared in Europe only in the 16th century.
At the same time as the fan, a winnowing machine was invented to separate grains from chaff.
Around the 15th and 16th centuries, the Chinese began using bristle toothbrushes. This is when in Europe people did not wash for years and there were lice in the wigs and clothes of rich nobles!
Ink for writing was invented by the Chinese in the 3rd millennium BC. It was made from pine soot. Much later they began to use petroleum soot. This mascara had a very beautiful shine. Art also originated in China.
Writing set
The art of calligraphy
The Chinese in 1200-1300 used sea and land mines and exploding cannonballs.
The Chinese in the 2nd-3rd centuries AD made full use of them, while in Europe they were considered absurd until 1544, when Mikhail Stiefel first described operations with them in his book “Complete Arithmetic”.
It's interesting that smallpox vaccinations, according to various sources, they were made in China already at the end of the 10th century or, possibly, in the 15th-16th centuries. In any case, much earlier than it was introduced in Europe.
The whistle also first appeared in China, it was used as a toy.
Porcelain was also invented in China around the 7th century in Northern China. Porcelain is one of the goods that China actively traded with other countries.
Chinese porcelain
Tea and tea ceremony first appeared in China. Tea back in the 2nd millennium BC. used for medicinal purposes. Then tea and tea drinking spread throughout China, and then throughout the world.
This is such a great civilization! There are still quite a lot of inventions that did not fit in this article. But I have listed the main, popular and widely used things now that simply did not exist before until the Chinese invented them!
Your opinion about the Great Chinese civilization and its discoveries, which changed the world so much, is also very interesting!
One of the most ancient civilizations that gave the world many unique inventions was Ancient China. Having experienced periods of prosperity and decline, this state has left a rich heritage - scientific ideas and inventions that are successfully used to this day. Gunpowder was one of these inventions of the ancient world.
How was gunpowder invented?
One of the most important inventions of Ancient China was gunpowder. This is an explosive mixture consisting of small particles of sulfur, coal and nitrate, which when heated creates a small explosion effect
The main component of gunpowder is saltpeter, which was quite abundant in ancient China. In regions with alkaline soils, it was found in its pure form and looked like snow flakes.
In ancient times, the Chinese often used saltpeter in cooking instead of salt; it was used as a medicinal drug and a popular component in the daring experiments of alchemists.
Rice. 1. Nitrate in nature.
The first to invent a recipe for producing gunpowder was the Chinese alchemist Sun Sy-miao, who lived in the 7th century. Having prepared a mixture of saltpeter, locust wood and sulfur, and heated it, he witnessed a bright flash of flame. This sample of gunpowder did not yet have a well-defined explosive effect. Subsequently, the composition was improved by other scientists, and soon the most optimal version was developed: sulfur, coal and potassium nitrate.
Use of gunpowder in ancient China
Gunpowder has found the widest application both in military affairs and in everyday life.
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- For a long time, gunpowder was used as a filling in the manufacture of incendiary projectiles, the so-called “fireballs”. The throwing machine threw an ignited projectile into the air, which exploded and scattered numerous burning particles that set everything in the area on fire.
Later, gunpowder barreled weapons appeared that looked like a long bamboo tube. Gunpowder was placed inside the tube and then set on fire. Such “flamethrowers” caused extensive burns to the enemy.
Rice. 2. Gunpowder.
The invention of gunpowder became the impetus for the development of military affairs and the creation of new types of weapons. Primitive “fireballs” were replaced by land and sea mines, exploding cannonballs, arquebuses and other types of firearms.
- For a long time, gunpowder was held in high esteem by ancient physicians, as it was considered an effective healing agent in the treatment of wounds and ulcers. It was also actively used to kill harmful insects.
- Fireworks became the most colorful and “bright” way to use gunpowder. In the Celestial Empire, they were given special significance: on New Year's Eve, the Chinese traditionally burned bonfires, driving out evil spirits who fear fire and sharp sounds. Fireworks came in handy for these purposes. Over time, local craftsmen began to make multi-colored fireworks by adding various reagents to gunpowder.
