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yes they did, although a firearm wasn't a handy tool like it is today. things such as early rifles, and 'blunderbusses' were around, but it wasnt practical to equip an entire army with them, so they weren't widely used. Shakespeare probably knew of them, as most people in London did, perhaps a few English troops would be seen walking around with them, but again, they were probably more for show than for practical use. Shakespeare has phrases such as 'go armed' or 'take you up arms'. He's probably talking about a sword.
if you research gun history, because of the wide and refined use of gunpowder in China and the east, simple rifles and handguns were used by armies in the Middle East, such as Egypt, and Persia. There's record of hand guns being used in battles as early as the 1200's, however, doing imagine it as a huge army all with guns, more like most of the battle swords and horses, with a few special soldiers with small handguns. These guns were probably enough to kill or at least stop a man a close range, but up against armed cavalry it was probably useless.
What else can I help you with?
How did the time period affect Shakespeare's plays?
The time period just affected Shakespeare's plays - come on.
What group wanted theatres to be closed down in Shakespeare's time?
the puritans wanted to close down the theaters in Shakespeare time
Who said Shakespeare is not of an age but for all time?
Ben Jonson, Shakespeare's friend and fellow playwright.
How where the foreigners treated during Shakespeare's time?
How where foreigners such as the Spanish, Portuguese, the French, the Jews, and the Africans treated in England during Shakespeare's time?
Who were the gatherers in Shakespeare time?
hindu people
Who was Anne Hathaway in Shakespeare's time?
At least for part of Shakespeare's time, she was Mrs. William Shakespeare.
What was role of children like in Shakespeare's time?
The role of children, in Shakespeare's time and at any other time, is to learn how to be adults.
What period of time did guns get illegal?
Depending on where you are, guns are NOT illegal.
Which disease threatened William Shakespeare?
There was an outbreak of plague in Stratford at about the time of Shakespeare's birth but Shakespeare didn't get it.
What disaster hit England around the time of Shakespeare?
The plague hit England around the time of Shakespeare
How did the time period affect Shakespeare's plays?
The time period just affected Shakespeare's plays - come on.
Was William Faulkner famous in Shakespeare time?
No , but Shakespeare was , and remains , famous .
Why couldn't Virgina Woolf write during Shakespeare's time?
She wasn't alive during "Shakespeare's time". She was born 300 years after Shakespeare's daughter Susannah. Women could and did write during "Shakespeare's time" but not women who had not yet been born.
What time did Shakespeare live in Brazil?
Shakespeare never left England.
How was William Shakespeare Entertained?
Shakespeare was entertained the same as anyone else, when he had time.
Did shakespeare die of the plage?
No, there is no evidence of plague in Stratford at the time Shakespeare died.
What group wanted theatres to be closed down in Shakespeare's time?
the puritans wanted to close down the theaters in Shakespeare time
