Gunpowder

Gunpowder, is a chemical explosive widely used in firearms and fireworks. It is a mixture of sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate. 

Gunpowder was first invented in China when taoists tried to create the portion to mortality. It was around 300AD when the recipe of gunpowder first appeared in paper works written by a chin dynasty scientist. Gunpowder made its way into the mass population's attention in around 700AD when it was used in firework displays. Finally by 904AD, gunpowder's future in military usage was discovered by Chinese inventors and it was made into different types of weapons.

The first use of gunpowder in warfare was in the form of rocket. Small packages of gunpowder were wrapped in paper or bamboo and then attached to arrows. These arrows would be lit with a fuse, so that they could become an incendiary, and set targets on fire. Later, metal barrels were used for fire lances that propelled gunpowder bombs intended to burn targets. That is the ancestor of the modern gun and canons.

Gunpowder travelled its way toward the west as the Mongols learned the secret of gunpowder when it conquered part of China. As expand its empire from Southern China to parts of Western Europe. The knowledge of gunpowder was spread through the world as Europeans, Indians and Muslims who fought against or lived under the ruling of the Mongols acquired the knowledge of gunpowder,

After the decline of the Mongol empire, gunpowder was soon made into weapons used to wage wars against each other, the technology involved soon evolved and new types of weapons appeared.

Europe took up the leading role in the advancement of forearm technology after 14 century. Unlike other regions of the world, the ancient Europe was scattered with small city states that constantly waged war against each other. The benefits of firearms were soon adopted by European armies since firearms is comparatively cheaper than the armor and horses used in middle age warfare. Also, the destructive power of guns and cannons made the castles if the old time defenseless. Soon all the troops in Europe were equipped with firearm.

Yet another benefit of gun is that it does no acquire a high level of skill to master. Any man can learn how to use gun in a short time. Especially in ancient Europe where only the rich can afford war gear and education. It gave ordinary man the power to defeat even the beast solider in the world, so guns were soon used to by the common people to break down the feudal system and the religious oppression. Which eventually lead to the age of enlightenment and revolutions that freed the thoughts of all mankind.

Guns and cannons were also used by european navy forces and they granted them the dominance of the sea. These naval empires eager to find the sea route to the east, and during their searching they discovered a whole new piece of continent. Colonies were built not only in the new continent, but also in the land of Asia and Africa as Europeans made their way to the lands and conquered them with their advanced firearms and large army. This further spread out the advanced technology to all parts of world and built the foundation of today's world. 

The influence of gunpowder is enormous, it changed the way people fight and think, it altered the social structure and encouraged the age of enlightenment. It lead to the discovery of the new land and the spread of technology. It is one of the forefathers of today's world.