Throwback Thursday: 850 Anno Domini

Over a thousand years ago, the history of guns began.

by
posted on May 4, 2023
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
chinese-rocket.jpg

It's easy to think of firearms as a modern invention, in part because the science behind them and the technology inside them gets better all the time. But the roots of gun technology go very, very deep indeed...over a thousand years, in fact, and all the way to the other side of the world. Here's what the first 500 years of firearms history looked like:

850:  Gunpowder first made in China

1004: First mention of gunpowder in Chinese literature

1067: Chinese emperor places production of saltpetre and sulphur (used to make gunpowder) under state control

1225: Marcus Graecus reveals formula for gunpowder in his Liber Ignum

1250: Roger Bacon records formula for gunpowder in De secretis operibus artis
         Albertus Magnus reveals formula for gunpowder in De mirabilis mundi ignium
         Berthold Schwartz experiments with gunpowder in Germany

1259: City of Melilla in North Africa defended by a cannon

1280: First guns appear in China

1308: Guns used by Spanish in siege of Gibraltar

1325: Florentine Republic orders two officers to make cannon for city defense

1326: First known illustration of a cannon in Milemete's De officiis regum

1327: Scots record first seeing firearms at the Battle of Werewater in Britain

1338: Cannons recorded as equipment of English ship Bernard de la Tour
          Records show gunpowder being stored in Tower of London

1340: Guns first used at sea in Battle of Sluys by Edward III of England
         Powder mill built in Augsburg, Germany

1344: Edward III's household staffed with "artillers and gonners"

1346: English Army uses cannons against French at Battle of Crecy


As you can see, although the invention of gunpowder actually took place in China, gunpowder doesn't seem to have actually been used for military purposes until some 400 years later...just a couple of decades after the discovery was "revealed" by European and English alchemists. However, once the innovations began to flower, the timeline between new and notable events in firearms history got shorter and shorter. That's a tradition that continues until this day, when innovation and invention is happening so quickly that it can be tough even for seasoned experts to keep up!


Latest

Ccw Minute Choose Gun Belt Lede
Ccw Minute Choose Gun Belt Lede

CCW Minute: How to Choose the Right Gun Belt

Gun belts are the unsung heroes of concealed carry. Here's how to pick the one right for you ... in under a minute!

Rising Shooting Stars: Sydney Beiswanger

“I plan to inspire juniors to get into this sport, and my goal is to be a role model for them,” Sydney said.

Throwback Thursday: The Revolutionary Kentucky Long Rifle

From its humble beginnings in the late 18th century to its enduring legacy in popular culture, the Kentucky Long Rifle stands as a testament to American ingenuity and craftsmanship.

Watch: NRA CEO Hamlin & President Bachenberg Hold Our First Virtual Townhall

"When President Bachenberg and I were elected, we pledged to rebuild the trust of our members, donors, and industry."

Reviewed: Daniel Defense 9mm Pistol-Caliber Carbine

Nimble, adjustable, accurate, and nicely outfitted, this PCC impresses.

From Pond to Pan, Frog-Hunting is Great Summer Fun

Get your gig, airgun, or .22 rifle and head for the water on a summer night and come away with some great eating!

Interests



Get the best of NRA Family delivered to your inbox.