The First Guns: The History and Legacy of the Invention of Firearms

The Chinese developed what were later dubbed the “Four Great Inventions of China,” and one of those was none other than gunpowder, which was developed no later than the 9th century and was being used for military purposes by the 11th century. Its use slowly spread through South Asia and the Middle East before making it to Europe in the late 13th century.

For a time it was a mere curiosity, but its destructive power and military potential would be realized quickly. The first record of a cann...