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The general consensus among historians is that gunpowder was invented in China in the 9th century. During the 10th century, the Chinese began to use a weapon called the "fire lance," one of the earliest confirmed gunpowder weapons. This invention was later followed by the invention of the mine, the cannon, and the firearm.

From China, gunpowder spread to the Middle East, Central Asia, and Europe, where various peoples (Mongols, Arabs, Germans) improved on the original formula. Gunpowder aka black powder mixture of sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate / saltpeter, creates an expanding gas that is used as perpellant in items ranging from firework to weaponry (canons, firearm) and is also known as a low explosive material.

The spread of gun powder across Asia from China is widely attributed to the Mongols. One of the first examples of Europeans encountering gunpowder and firearms is at the Battle of Mohi, between the Mongolians and the Hungarians. At this battle the Mongols not only used gunpowder in early Chinese firearms but in the earliest grenades as well.

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13y ago

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