How Gunpowder Changed the World

Gunpowder is a historical invention that revolutionised the world and terrorised the world at the same time. Gunpowder was invented in China by an alchemist called Wei Boyang during the Eastern Han dynasty who was trying to make ‘the elixir of life’. The very first weapon that ever used gunpowder was the ‘fire lance’. It was a tube with a spear in a bamboo tube which propelled the spear through barricades with its gunpowder charge. He was known as the father of alchemy and he also was a writer. Gunpowder found numerous applications in firearms like guns, construction and even mining.

Gunpowder possesses unique properties. It is a low explosive and doesn’t detonate but it actually deflagrates. This helps to eject objects as obviously you would not want a gun that would shatter when you fire. It contains its own oxidiser making it burn faster. With its own combustion, it is capable of bursting containers like grenades.

Gunpowder economically advantageous to the fields of construction and mining, forever changing the face of engineering. There are various roads built using dynamite. One example is the Great Western Railway Line which runs from London to Bristol. Without gunpowder, many of the convenient transportation systems would not exist!

Gunpowder was also used in the bombing of castles and barricades during protests. With this invention, the humble peasant was able to rebel against scrupulous authority and abolish the unfair feudal system during the middle ages. Cannons, muskets and rockets rendered the homes of royalty obsolete. This weakened the powers of the kings and lords, lending more equality and fairness to the peasants. This shifted Europe away from the confinements of feudalism.

Nowadays, gunpowder is mostly obsolete and can only be viewed at museums. We use what's called smokeless powder for caution. Smokeless powder is like gunpowder that produces a minimal amount of smoke. We are on a trajectory to not use powder and mainly use energy. Gunpowder powered guns are now exclusive to museums to show the history of firearms.