Overview

The history of guns rides right along with the evolution of our armies and play a key role in changing the way wars were fought. This dates back to the early days of the 10th century and all the way up to modern times. During this time guns have experienced intense technical advances and economic developments that have increased the practicalness and also the lethality of guns.The first gun and gunpowder are widely regarded, although still disputed, to come from China during the 10th and 9th centuries, respectively. In the 10th century, the Chinese invented Fire-spurting lances which consisted of a bamboo rod or a metal rod to hold the gunpowder or the huo yao , which means fire-chemical.Huo Yao was an ancient Chinese invention that was actually used historically as a cure for indigestion. While Chinese alchemists were actually seeking the elixir of immortality they accidentally discovered the volatile and explosive elements of this black powder.The fire-spurting lances were used during the Jin-Song wars within the Song dynasty era that began in 960 to 1279. These fire-spurting lances are recorded as the devices that were the first guns and also the first known use of gunpowder, in war or otherwise.The design of the fire-spurting lance was generally a small bamboo or bronze/iron casted rod that could be operated by a single person that would spew fire and lead balls at their opponent. The Chinese also created a more cannon-like device that would be held up by modern wooden frames and spurt gunpowder filled bombs that would explode upon impact causing great confusion and disarray and of course, death. These proto-cannons were aptly named Flying-cloud Thunderclap Eruptors or Feiyun Pilipao, in Chinese.These devices which mark the first uses of gunpowder-based weapons and artillery were described in detail in the Huolongling or the Fire Drake manual. This manuscript was written by Jiao Yu and Liu Bowen who were military officers, philosophers, and political advocates during the early Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).The Europeans first started receiving gun powder from the Chinese, as well as silk and paper, via the Silk Road trade route. As Europe received the gunpowder it was applied rather quickly to the cannons in the battlefield which were part of the early 13th-century technological advancements which began to mark the end of the medieval era.The cannon became quite popular as it annihilated troops regardless of their fast horses and heavy, steel armor. After the initial invention of cannons, the concept of firing a big fiery ball of lead towards the enemies began to be conceptualized into a device that could be handled and operated by individuals.This conceptualization resulted in what is the first known hand-held gun and is referred to as the Hand-Cannon. It is essentially a hunk of iron that is hand-forged into two parts. The first part was the long barrel part to hold the projectile and a pole or handle that the gun wielder would hold.To fire the weapon the wielder, or sometimes an assistant, would hold a live flame to the end of the barrel that would ignite the gunpowder and fling the projectile outwards. Ammunition was generally sparse in the 13th century so anything would be used in place of an iron ball such as stones, nails or anything else they could find.The Hand-cannon grew in popularity over the course of the 13th century. The weapon had many characteristics that rendered it useful above that of swords and bows in favorable circumstances. Archers and swordsman required lifelong devotion towards their practice to be able to attain a level of skill that was useful in battle. The hand-cannon was able to be used skillfully with very little training and was also cheap and able to be produced in mass quantity.

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