Timeline: Gunpowder timeline

799

Chinese Alchemists seek eternal life

They mix things together hoping to achieve immortality potions

800

Black powder invented

A highly unstable mix of sulfur, charcoal and potassium nitrite was combined by Chinese alchemists seeking immortality.

800

Firecrackers

Firecrackers were the only known use of gunpowder until the 900s. The earliest firecrackers were bamboo sticks roasted on fires.

899

Gunpowder used to scare enemies

Gunpowder and firecrackers were used to scare and confuse enemies. The Chinese also believed that firecrackers scared away evil spirits. (Hence why they used it against enemies)

900

First use in battle

The first use of weaponized gunpowder was in 900 in the form of small bombs

919

Gunpowder slowmatch gun

The gunpowder slow match gun is a primitive form of musket, consisting of a metal pipe tapered at the end that holds gunpowder, with a hole for a match that is lit that ignites the powder shooting the bullet.

960

Fire/Gunpowder arrows invented

The so-called "Fire lances" were very effective and used extensively up until the 17th century.

1000

Gunpowder proves its worth

Gunpowder and caltrops presented to Song province court, proving their worth and effectiveness to the government.

1070

Private gunpowder trade banned (Song dynasty)

Gunpowder was banned for private trade for people of the Liao and Western Xia regions.

1100

First recorded use of gunpowder fireworks

Gunpowder fireworks and bombs used to impress the Chinese emperor. Considered to be the first historical record of gunpowder fireworks,

1127

"Molten Metal Bombs"

"Molten Metal Bombs" were first used by Song dynasty troops invading the city of Kaifeng in the Jin dynasty.

1128

Earliest depiction of cannon

The earliest depiction of a cannon was at the Dazu Rock Carvings, which shows a gourd-shaped cannon with the flames coming out.

1129

Gunpowder Warships

For the first time, Song dynasty warships are outfitted with gunpowder weapons such as trebuchets with thunderclap bombs, and more fire arrows.

1227

First known cannon

First known cannon, the Wuwei bronze cannon was excavated in 1980s China in the Western Xia reason and has been dated by historians back to 1227.

1240

Middle east acquires knowledge of gunpowder

The knowledge of gunpowder spreads through the silk road.

1277

The first suicide bombing

A garrison of Song dynasty soldiers acquires a large gunpowder bomb and sets it off, killing themselves.

1280

"Eruptor" cannon invented.

The "eruptor" cannon is essentially just a shotgun cannon. It was invented in 1280

1280

Europe gets gunpowder

Europe acquires the recipes and information of gunpowder and bombs.

1330

First mentions of cannons in Europe

The first depictions of cannons from drawings and textual sources date back to 1330, from Sweden and Spain. (The Loshult gun is one of the first cannons in Europe, dated to 1330s Sweden.)

1370

Stone to Iron cannonballs

"Round shot" as cannonballs are known, began their transition from stone to metal in China, 1370, under the rule of the Ming Dynasty.

1451

New rocket launchers

The "Munjong Hwacha" is produced in Korea. It consists of a block of wood with holes for rocket arrows, that can be lit all at the same time, which would send a volley of explosive arrows towards the enemy.

1516

Matchlocks appear in Asia

The first match locked early rifles appeared in Asia after Vietnamese soldiers developed then. The matchlock mechanism is a mechanism that allows the soldier to aim while firing, instead of having to focus on holding and using the match.

1605

The bayonet

Ming dynasty soldiers are issued the barrel plug bayonet, the first of its kind.

1644

History continues and leaves Asia behind

Firearms and gunpowder history continues as China fades into the background after the collapse of the Ming dynasty in 1644, leaving the European theatre the hub of gunpowder invention.

2019