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Chinese alchemists accidentally discovered gunpowder in the late Tang dynasty by mixing saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal. Gunpowder was used for military purposes, such as cannons and grenades, and for non-military purposes, such as fireworks. The Song Dynasty repelled Mongol invaders with “flying fire” arrows and advanced gunpowder-based weaponry. Gunpowder remained a secret weapon until the 13th century when it was transmitted to Europe and the Middle East via the Silk Road.
For centuries, Chinese alchemists have blended various compounds, searching for an elixir that would unlock the key to eternal life. Sometime during the late Tang dynasty, around 850 AD, these alchemists mixed saltpeter – the oxidizing agent known today as potassium nitrate – with sulfur and charcoal, and accidentally discovered gunpowder. Their explosive invention led to the creation of new and highly effective weapons, from flaming arrows in the early days, to the later development of rifles, cannons and grenades. Gunpowder has also been used over the centuries for non-military purposes, such as fireworks for entertainment and in explosives used in mines and tunnels.
An explosive discovery:
The Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD) is known for repelling Mongol invaders with “flying fire” – arrows attached to tubes of gunpowder that were ignited and rocketed through enemy lines.
The Mongols also felt the prod of more advanced gunpowder-based weaponry over the next century, as the Chinese perfected the first cannons and grenades.
Gunpowder remained something of a secret weapon for the Chinese until the 13th century, when science was transmitted along the ancient Silk Road to Europe and the Middle East.
