Development of Gunpowder in Ancient China “Since the earliest civilizations, ancient China has led way for the creation of many influential inventions (Deng 2).” “Ancient China has constantly created new inventions across many different time periods and generations (Deng 2).” One important Chinese invention is the Compass, invented during the Qin Dynasty (221- 206 BC). Its main purpose was to tell direction; and unlike today's compasses, ancient China's compasses pointed south because it was their primary direction. Another important ancient Chinese invention is paper, invented during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC- 25 AD). Paper was and still is used to record information, and to transport documented messages. The next interesting invention
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Porcelain is a translucent ceramic that is made by firing clay. “China's most important invention was possibly the slowest to develop, gunpowder (Andrade 18).” The development of gunpowder throughout many ancient Chinese dynasties affected both ancient and modern civilization. Gunpowder was most likely invented some time during the ninth century AD, more specifically the Tang Dynasty (618- 907 AD). Although in 142 AD, a chinese author and alchemist named Wei Boyang wrote about three powdered substances that “fly and dance” very similar to gunpowder. And in 300 AD, a writer named Ge Hong wrote all the ingredients of gunpowder and described an explosion; this means gunpowder may have been invented earlier than the ninth century AD. Gunpowder is an explosive substance made from a powdered mix of saltpeter (potassium nitrate), elemental sulfur, and charcoal. Saltpeter, alternatively spelled as …show more content…
Even though no one actually knows how gunpowder reached Europe, scholars say it may have been through the “Silk Road”. The Silk Road was a large network of trade routes that stretched across south Asia and into portions of Europe and Africa. Other possible theories are that is spread has relations to the third crusade or that is spread because of the Mongol invasions. “Whichever theory is correct it only took fifty years for gunpowder to spread to Europe, centuries quicker than any other important Chinese inventions (Andrade 76).” Once in Europe gunpowder was revolutionized, they mightily improved on it in multiple ways. One way was by creating corned gunpowder, which is when you get normal gunpowder damp and then break it up into grains. This form of gunpowder is both much more powerful and more stable than regular gunpowder. Europe did not only improve gunpowder but also the gun, they used their already advanced metalwork skill to make rifles strong and more durable. They also improved the distance a gun can be fired by calculating the amount of force on the gas chamber of a gun. Europe also created many new guns, cannons, and improvements
Porcelain is a translucent ceramic that is made by firing clay. “China's most important invention was possibly the slowest to develop, gunpowder (Andrade 18).” The development of gunpowder throughout many ancient Chinese dynasties affected both ancient and modern civilization. Gunpowder was most likely invented some time during the ninth century AD, more specifically the Tang Dynasty (618- 907 AD). Although in 142 AD, a chinese author and alchemist named Wei Boyang wrote about three powdered substances that “fly and dance” very similar to gunpowder. And in 300 AD, a writer named Ge Hong wrote all the ingredients of gunpowder and described an explosion; this means gunpowder may have been invented earlier than the ninth century AD. Gunpowder is an explosive substance made from a powdered mix of saltpeter (potassium nitrate), elemental sulfur, and charcoal. Saltpeter, alternatively spelled as …show more content…
Even though no one actually knows how gunpowder reached Europe, scholars say it may have been through the “Silk Road”. The Silk Road was a large network of trade routes that stretched across south Asia and into portions of Europe and Africa. Other possible theories are that is spread has relations to the third crusade or that is spread because of the Mongol invasions. “Whichever theory is correct it only took fifty years for gunpowder to spread to Europe, centuries quicker than any other important Chinese inventions (Andrade 76).” Once in Europe gunpowder was revolutionized, they mightily improved on it in multiple ways. One way was by creating corned gunpowder, which is when you get normal gunpowder damp and then break it up into grains. This form of gunpowder is both much more powerful and more stable than regular gunpowder. Europe did not only improve gunpowder but also the gun, they used their already advanced metalwork skill to make rifles strong and more durable. They also improved the distance a gun can be fired by calculating the amount of force on the gas chamber of a gun. Europe also created many new guns, cannons, and improvements