Gunpowder
Gunpowder | By Pranav Kodali | | |
Pranav Kodali
Professor Karen Manchester
History Period 3
18 May 2012
Gunpowder’s Explosive Past
How did a black powder discovered one millennium ago affect how the first Apollo escaped orbit? Gunpowder influences our everyday life, whether you know it or not. In this report, I will be talking about the origin of gunpowder, the use of gunpowder, and the influence of gunpowder on previous battles. Most people think of gunpowder as a ruthless substance that helped take the lives of millions of people, but it has helped in the lives of billions of people because of the technology that it helped create. My goal in this paper is to inform you on gunpowder and show how important it is in our lives and the lives of billions of people. Gunpowder has a mysterious history that extends over more than a 1000 years. Although no one knows exactly who discovered gunpowder, we know that ancient Chinese alchemists discovered gunpowder while finding an elixir (a potion that makes you live longer) (Cotterel 23). A “premature” version was made in the 8th century, but the more common version that we have used until smokeless gunpowder was invented was first recorded in China around 850 A.D (Carr). Gunpowder has a fairly simple formula, despite its complexity and its robustness. It has three main ingredients: saltpeter, charcoal, and sulfur (Szczepanski), although other materials can be added to make different types of gunpowder such as smokeless gunpowder. Saltpeter comes from mining. It was thought to be the secret to immortality in ancient china, so Chinese alchemists performed many experiments using saltpeter. Charcoal came from burnt willow tree. The mixture for gunpowder has a composition of 75% saltpeter, 15% charcoal, and 10%sulfur (Szczepanski). Gunpowder had many uses in Ancient China, and it still does today, although not for the exact same reasons. It’s very first use was for fireworks. The main use of
Pranav Kodali
Professor Karen Manchester
History Period 3
18 May 2012
Gunpowder’s Explosive Past
How did a black powder discovered one millennium ago affect how the first Apollo escaped orbit? Gunpowder influences our everyday life, whether you know it or not. In this report, I will be talking about the origin of gunpowder, the use of gunpowder, and the influence of gunpowder on previous battles. Most people think of gunpowder as a ruthless substance that helped take the lives of millions of people, but it has helped in the lives of billions of people because of the technology that it helped create. My goal in this paper is to inform you on gunpowder and show how important it is in our lives and the lives of billions of people. Gunpowder has a mysterious history that extends over more than a 1000 years. Although no one knows exactly who discovered gunpowder, we know that ancient Chinese alchemists discovered gunpowder while finding an elixir (a potion that makes you live longer) (Cotterel 23). A “premature” version was made in the 8th century, but the more common version that we have used until smokeless gunpowder was invented was first recorded in China around 850 A.D (Carr). Gunpowder has a fairly simple formula, despite its complexity and its robustness. It has three main ingredients: saltpeter, charcoal, and sulfur (Szczepanski), although other materials can be added to make different types of gunpowder such as smokeless gunpowder. Saltpeter comes from mining. It was thought to be the secret to immortality in ancient china, so Chinese alchemists performed many experiments using saltpeter. Charcoal came from burnt willow tree. The mixture for gunpowder has a composition of 75% saltpeter, 15% charcoal, and 10%sulfur (Szczepanski). Gunpowder had many uses in Ancient China, and it still does today, although not for the exact same reasons. It’s very first use was for fireworks. The main use of