Timeline of the Gunpowder Age

This is a timeline of the history of gunpowder and related topics such as weapons, warfare, and industrial applications. The timeline covers the history of gunpowder from the first hints of its origin as a Taoist alchemical product in China until its replacement by smokeless powder in the late 19th century (from 1884 to the present day).

Pre-gunpowder formula

Major developments: Earliest stage of gunpowder development. Mentions of gunpowder ingredients and their uses in conjunction with each other.

9th century

Major developments: Earliest definite references to a gunpowder formula and awareness of its danger.

10th century

Major developments: Gunpowder is utilized in Chinese warfare and an assortment of gunpowder weapons appear. Fire arrows utilizing gunpowder as an incendiary appear in the early 900s and possibly rocket arrows as well by the end of the century. The gunpowder slow match is used for igniting flame throwers. The ancestor of firearms, the fire lance, also appears, but its usage in the 10th century is uncertain and no textual evidence for it exists during this period.

Image:Chinese Flamethrower.JPG, A flamethrower from the ''Wujing Zongyao'', supposedly used the gunpowder slow match
File:Manual Fire Arrow.jpg, An arrow strapped with gunpowder ready to be shot from a bow. From the ''Huolongjing''
File:Gong she huo shi liu jian.png, A fire arrow from the ''Wubei Zhi''
File:Oldest depiction of rocket arrows.jpg, Rocket arrows from the ''Huolongjing''.
File:明朝的神機箭.jpg, Depiction of fire arrows known as "divine engine arrows" (shen ji jian 神機箭) from the ''Wubei Zhi''.
Image:FireLanceAndGrenade10thCenturyDunhuang.jpg, Earliest known representation of a bomb and fire lance (upper right), Dunhuang, 950 AD."The Genius of China", Robert Temple

11th century

Major developments: The chemical formula for gunpowder is recorded in the ''Wujing Zongyao'' by 1044. Bombs appear in the early 11th century. Gunpowder becomes more common in the Song dynasty and production of gunpowder weapons is systematized. The Song court restricts trade of gunpowder ingredients with the Liao and Western Xia dynasties.

File:Chinese Gunpowder Formula.JPG, Earliest known written formula for gunpowder, from the ''Wujing Zongyao'' of 1044 AD.
File:Chinese Bird with Incendiary.JPG, An expendable bird carrying an incendiary receptacle around its neck. From the ''Wujing Zongyao''.
File:武经总要 火球图.jpg, An 'igniter fire ball' and 'barbed fire ball' from the ''Wujing Zongyao''.
File:Thunderclap bomb.jpg, A thunderclap bomb as depicted in the ''Wujing Zongyao''.
File:Exploding pottery caltrops.jpg, Gunpowder pot and caltrops from the Yuan dynasty.
File:Wind and dust bomb.jpg, Depiction of a' wind-and-dust bomb' (''feng chen pao'') from the ''Huolongjing''.

12th century

Major developments: Gunpowder fireworks are mentioned. Ships are equipped with trebuchets for hurling bombs. Earliest recorded usage of gunpowder artillery in ship to ship combat, first mention of the fire lance in battle, and the earliest possible depiction of a cannon appears.

File:梨花鎗.jpg, A fire lance from the ''Huolongjing''.
File:Two barreled automatic fire lance from the Huolongjing.jpg, A double barreled fire lance from the ''Huolongjing''. Supposedly they fired in succession, and the second one is lit automatically after the first barrel finishes firing.

13th century

Major developments: Bomb shells gain an iron casing. Fire lances are equipped with projectiles and reusable iron barrels. Rockets are used in warfare. "Fire emitting tubes" are produced in the Song dynasty by the mid-13th century and hand cannons are recorded to have been used in battle by the Yuan dynasty in 1287. The earliest extant cannons appear in China. The Mongols spread gunpowder weaponry to Japan, Southeast Asia, and possibly the Middle East as well as Europe. Europe and India both acquire gunpowder by the end of the century, but only in the Middle East are gunpowder weapons mentioned in any detail.

File:Chinese Fire Lance with Pellets.JPG, The 'phalanx-charging fire-gourd' forgoes the spearhead and relies solely on the force of gunpowder and projectiles. From the ''Huolongjing''.
File:Ming Dynasty eruptor proto-cannon.jpg, An illustration of a 'flying-cloud thunderclap-eruptor,' a cannon firing thunderclap bombs, from the ''Huolongjing''.
File:Poison eruptor.jpg, A 'poison fog divine smoke eruptor' (''du wu shen yan pao'') as depicted in the ''Huolongjing''. Small shells emitting poisonous smoke are fired.
File:Yuan Cannon (16918857248).jpg, Cannon with trunnions, Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368)
File:Inner Mongolia Museum stone cannon balls.jpg, Stone cannon balls unearthed in Shangdu, Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368)
File:てつはう（震天雷）.JPG, Yuan dynasty bombs, known in Japanese as ''Tetsuhau'' (iron bomb), or in Chinese as ''Zhentianlei'' (thunder crash bomb), dated to the Mongol invasions of Japan (1271–1284).

14th century

Major developments: Chinese gunpowder weaponry continues to advance with the development of one-piece cast iron cannons, accompanying carriages, and the addition of land mines, naval mines and rocket launchers. Earliest recorded instance of volley fire with gunpowder weaponry, by the Ming dynasty. The rest of the world catches up quickly and most of Eurasia acquires gunpowder weapons by the second half of the 14th century. Cannon development in Europe progresses rapidly and by 1374, cannons in Europe are able to breach a city wall for the first time. Breech loading cannons appear in Europe.

File:一窩蜂.jpg, A "nest of bees" (yi wo feng 一窩蜂) arrow rocket launcher as depicted in the ''Wubei Zhi''.
File:Ming Dynasty fragmentation bomb.jpg, A 'divine bone dissolving fire oil bomb' (''lan gu huo you shen pao'') from the ''Huolongjing''.
File:Ming Dynasty field artillery cannon.jpg, A bronze "thousand ball thunder cannon" from the ''Huolongjing''.
File:Self-tripped trespass land mine, Huolongjing.jpg, The 'self-tripped trespass land mine' (''zi fan pao'') from the ''Huolongjing''.
File:Chinese Naval Mine.JPG, Naval mine system known as the 'marine dragon-king' (''shui di long wang pao'') from the ''Huolongjing''.
File:EarlyCannonDeNobilitatibusSapientiiEtPrudentiisRegumManuscriptWalterdeMilemete1326.jpg, Oldest known European depiction of a firearm from ''De Nobilitatibus Sapientii Et Prudentiis Regum'' by Walter de Milemete (1326).
File:Nicopol final battle 1398.jpg, Battle of Nicopolis 1398

15th century

Major developments: Large-calibre artillery weighing several thousand kg are produced in Europe during the early 15th century and spread to the Ottoman Empire. Modifiable two wheeled gun carts known as limbers and caissons appear, greatly improving the mobility of artillery. The matchlock arquebus, the first firearm with a trigger mechanism, appears in Europe by 1475. Rifled barrels also appear in the late 15th century. The term musket is used for the first time in 1499. Rocket launchers are used in battle by the Ming dynasty and the Korean kingdom of Joseon develops a mobile rocket launcher vehicle called the hwacha. Chinese style bombs are used in Japan by 1468 at the latest.

File:40KgWroughtIronMurderer1410France.jpg, Breech loading cannon, 1410.
File:Artillery in the MMB.jpg, Faule Magd ("Lazy Maid"), a medieval cannon from ca. 1410–1430.
File:Edinburgh Castle, Mons Meg.jpg, Mons Meg, a medieval Bombard (weapon) built in 1449.
Image:Dardanelles Gun Turkish Bronze 15c.png, The bronze Great Turkish Bombard, used by the Ottoman Empire in the siege of Constantinople in 1453.
File:Hakenbüchsen geschmiedet 16. Jh.jpg, Early arquebuses prior to the matchlock were just hand cannons with a hook
File:PS8004046.jpg, A serpentine matchlock mechanism
File:Hwacha-1500s-painting2.jpg, A hwacha assembly and disassembly illustration from the '' Gukjo Orye Seorye'', 1474

16th century

Major developments: Matchlock firearms spread throughout Eurasia, reaching China and Japan by the mid-16th century. The volley fire technique is implemented using matchlock firearms by the Ottomans, Ming dynasty, and Dutch Republic by the end of the century. The arquebus is replaced by its heavier variant called the musket to combat heavily armoured troops. "Musket" becomes the dominant term for all shoulder arms fireweapons until the mid-19th century. The wheellock and flintlock trigger mechanisms are invented. Pistols and revolvers both appear during this period. Ottoman troops attach bayonets to their firearms. Both Europe and China develop handheld breech loading firearms. The star fort spreads across Europe in response to increasing effectiveness of siege artillery. The Ming dynasty uses gunpowder for hydraulic engineering.

File:Harquebosiers (Vereenigde Provincien der Nederlanden- Musketier, 1580) (NYPL b14896507-92025).tiff, Matchlock firearms in the 16th century
File:Double-Barreled Wheellock Pistol Made for Emperor Charles V (reigned 1519–56) MET DT772.jpg, Double-Barreled Wheellock Pistol Made for Emperor Charles V, 1540
File:Snapplåsbössa, 1500-tal - Skoklosters slott - 103605.tif, Snaphance flintlock firearm
File:Drehling GNM W1984 ca 1580.jpg, Revolver
File:1594 Dutch musketry volley technique.jpg, Diagram of a 1594 Dutch musketry volley formation
File:Palmanova1600.jpg, Palmanova star fort in 1593
File:Breech loading arquebus 1598.jpg, A breech loading matchlock from the '' Shenqipu''

17th century

Major developments: Bayonets spread across Eurasia. A paper cartridge is introduced by Gustavus Adolphus. Rifles are used for war by Denmark. A ship of the line carrying 60 to 120 cannons appears in Europe. Samuel Pepys' diary mentions a machine gun like pistol. The "true" flintlock replaces the snaphance flintlock in Europe by the end of the 17th century. Both China and Japan reject the flintlock and the Mughal Empire only uses it in limited quantities. Gunpowder is used for mining in Europe.

File:Germany, Bavaria (?), 17th century - Wheel-Lock Rifle - 1919.65 - Cleveland Museum of Art.tif, Wheellock rifle, 1618
File:Flintlock Gun of Louis XIII (1601–1643), King of France MET DT11038.jpg, Louis XIII's flintlock,
File:Sovereign of the Seas.jpg, HMS Sovereign of the Seas, 102 guns, 1637.
File:HMSRoyal Charles.png, HMS Royal Charles (1673), 100 gun
File:HMS Britannia in two positions RMG BHC3743.tiff, HMS Britannia (1682), 100 guns
File:Breech loading arquebus with bayonet 1606.png, A breech loading matchlock with a plug bayonet from the '' Binglu'', 1606.
File:Plug Bayonet 1650.JPG, Plug bayonet from the 1650s

18th century

Major developments: Flintlocks completely displace matchlock firearms in Europe both on land and at sea. Sir William Congreve, 1st Baronet discovers "cylinder powder", gunpowder produced using charcoal in iron cylinders, which is twice as powerful as traditional gunpowder and less likely to spoil. He also invents block trail carriages, the most advanced artillery transport of the time. James Puckle invents a breechloader flintlock capable of firing 63 shots in seven minutes. The Kingdom of Mysore deploys iron cased rockets known as Mysorean rockets.

File:Vertical cannon drilling.jpg, Vertical cannon drilling
File:Benjamin Robins.png, Benjamin Robins describes the ballistic pendulum in the ''New Principles of Gunnery''
File:Puckle gun advertisement.jpg, Flier for Puckle gun of 1718 showing various cylinders for use with round and square bullets.
File:Carronade (schematics).jpg, Late 18th century carronade
File:Indian soldier of Tipu Sultan's army.jpg, Tipu Sultan soldier using a Mysorean rocket as a flag staff
File:NL-HaNA 1.11.01.01 1276 1R Brief van J.G. van Angelbeek, gouverneur van Ceylon, uit Cochin, aan de heer Decker, berichtend over de strijd tussen Tipoe en de vorst van Travancone. 1790 januari 14 (cropped).jpg, Illustration of Mysorean rockets used by the troops of Tipu Sultan

19th century

Major developments: Sir William Congreve, 2nd Baronet develops the Congreve rockets based on Mysorean rockets and British forces successfully deploy them against Copenhagen. Joshua Shaw invents percussion caps which replace the flintlock trigger mechanism. Claude-Étienne Minié invents the Minié ball, making rifles a viable military firearm, ending the era of smoothbore muskets. Subsequently rifles are deployed in the Crimean War with resounding success. Benjamin Tyler Henry invents the Henry rifle, the first reliable repeating rifle. Richard Jordan Gatling invents the Gatling gun, capable of firing 200 cartridges in a minute. Hiram Maxim invents the Maxim gun, the first single-barreled machine gun. Both China and Europe start using cast iron molds for casting cannons. Alfred Nobel invents dynamite, the first stable explosive stronger than gunpowder. Smokeless powder is invented and replaces the traditional "black powder" in Europe by the end of the century.

File:Pistol, percussion (AM 776003-11).jpg, Percussion cap pistol
File:Minie Balls.jpg, Minié balls
File:Zündnadelgewehr m-1841 - Preussen - Armémuseum.jpg, Dreyse needle gun
File:Henry Winchester Musket.JPG, The Henry rifle and Winchester rifle
File:Armstrong Gun in Fort Fisher, N.C., 1865.jpg, Armstrong gun
File:Gatling gun 1865.jpg, Gatling gun
File:Maxim Machine Gun for Turkey - Cassier's 1895-04.png, Maxim gun

20th century

Major developments: Smokeless powder replaces traditional "black powder" across the globe, ending the gunpowder age.

See also

* Timeline of the gunpowder age in Japan
* Timeline of the gunpowder age in Korea
* Timeline of the gunpowder age in South Asia
* Timeline of the gunpowder age in Southeast Asia

Citations

References

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* Hadden, R. Lee. 2005. "Confederate Boys and Peter Monkeys." Armchair General. January 2005. Adapted from a talk given to the Geological Society of America on 25 March 2004.
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* Schmidtchen, Volker (1977a), "Riesengeschütze des 15. Jahrhunderts. Technische Höchstleistungen ihrer Zeit", ''Technikgeschichte'' 44 (2): 153–173 (153–157)
* Schmidtchen, Volker (1977b), "Riesengeschütze des 15. Jahrhunderts. Technische Höchstleistungen ihrer Zeit", ''Technikgeschichte'' 44 (3): 213–237 (226–228)
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