This is a timeline of the history ofgunpowder 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 aTaoistalchemical product in China until its replacement bysmokeless powder in the late 19th century (from 1884 to the present day).
Major developments: Earliest stage of gunpowder development. Mentions of gunpowder ingredients and their uses in conjunction with each other.
| Year | Date | Region | Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| 142 | China | ATaoist text known as theCantong qi, or theBook of the Kinship of Three, by Wei Boyang, who lived in theEastern Han dynasty, mentions a combination of three powders that fly and dance violently.[1][2] | |
| 318 | China | The ingredients of gunpowder are recorded in theBaopuzi, also known asThe Master Who Embraces Simplicity, by Taoist philosopherGe Hong, who lived in theJin dynasty (266–420). It describes experiments to create gold with heated saltpeter, pine resin, andcharcoal among other carbon materials, resulting in a purple powder and arsenic vapours.[3][4] | |
| 492 | China | Tao Hongjing, a Taoist alchemist, notes thatsaltpeter burns with a purple flame.[5] | |
| 756 | China | The Taoist Mao Kua reports in hisPinglongren (Recognition of the Recumbent Dragon) that by heatingsaltpeter, theyin of the air can be obtained, which combines withsulphur,carbon, and metals other than gold.[6] |
Major developments: Earliest definite references to a gunpowder formula and awareness of its danger.
| Year | Date | Region | Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| 808 | China | The Taoist priest Qing Xuzi mentions the gunpowder formula in hisTaishang Shengzu Jindan Mijue, describing six parts sulfur to six parts saltpeter to one part birthwort herb.[7] | |
| 858 | China | The Taoist textZhenyuan miaodao yaolüe (Classified Essentials of the Mysterious Way of the True Origin of Things) contains a warning on the dangers of gunpowder: "Some have heated together sulfur, realgar (arsenic disulphide), and saltpeter with honey; smoke [and flames] result, so that their hands and faces have been burnt, and even the whole house burned down."[7] |
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 gunpowderslow match is used for ignitingflame throwers. The ancestor of firearms, thefire lance, also appears, but its usage in the 10th century is uncertain and no textual evidence for it exists during this period.
| Year | Date | Region | Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| 904 | China | Fire arrows utilizing gunpowder are used bySouthern Wu troops during the siege ofYuzhang.[8][9] | |
| 919 | China | Thegunpowderslow match appears in China (for igniting flamethrowers).[10] | |
| 950 | China | Fire lances appear in China.[11] | |
| 969 | China | Gunpowder propelledfire arrows, rocket arrows, are invented by Yue Yifang and Feng Jisheng.[12] | |
| 975 | China | The state ofWuyue sends a group of soldiers skilled in the use offire arrows to the Song dynasty, which uses fire arrows and incendiary bombs in the same year to destroy the fleet ofSouthern Tang.[13] | |
| 994 | China | TheLiao dynasty attacks theSong dynasty and lays siege to Zitong with 100,000 troops, but fails due to the defenders' use of fire arrows.[13] | |
| 1000 | China | Tang Fu demonstrates gunpowder pots and caltrops to theSong court and is rewarded.[14] |
![Earliest known representation of a bomb and fire lance (upper right), Dunhuang, 950 AD.[15]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aFireLanceAndGrenade10thCenturyDunhuang.jpg)
Major developments: The chemical formula for gunpowder is recorded in theWujing Zongyao by 1044. Bombs appear in the early 11th century. Gunpowder becomes more common in theSong dynasty and production of gunpowder weapons is systematized. The Song court restricts trade of gunpowder ingredients with theLiao andWestern Xia dynasties.
| Year | Date | Region | Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1002 | China | Shi Pu demonstrates fireballs utilizing gunpowder to theSong court and blueprints are created for promulgation throughout the realm.[14] | |
| 1044 | China | The chemical formula for gunpowder appears in the military manualWujing Zongyao, also known as theComplete Essentials for the Military Classics.[16][17] | |
| China | "Thunderclap bombs" are mentioned in theWujing Zongyao.[18] | ||
| China | A "triple-bed-crossbow" firingfire arrows is mentioned in theWujing Zongyao.[19] | ||
| 1067 | China | Private trade of gunpowder ingredients is banned in theSong dynasty.[20] | |
| 1075 | Sinosphere | Vietnam'sLý dynasty usedfire arrows against the Song dynasty during theLý–Song War (1075–1077).[21] | |
| 1076 | China | Trade of gunpowder ingredients with theLiao andWestern Xia dynasties is outlawed by theSong court.[14] | |
| 1083 | China | Three hundred thousandfire arrows are produced by theSong court and delivered to two garrisons.[14] |
Major developments: Gunpowderfireworks are mentioned. Ships are equipped with trebuchets for hurling bombs. Earliest recorded usage of gunpowder artillery in ship to ship combat, first mention of thefire lance in battle, and the earliest possible depiction of acannon appears.
| Year | Date | Region | Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1110 | China | TheSong army puts on a firework display for the emperor including a spectacle which opened with "a noise like thunder" and explosives that light up the night. Considered by some to be the first mention of gunpowder fireworks.[22] | |
| 1126 | February | China | Jingkang Incident: Thunderclap bomb as well asfire arrows and fire bombs are used bySong troops during the siege ofKaifeng by theJin dynasty (1115–1234).[23] |
| 1127 | December | China | "Molten metal bombs", suspected to contain gunpowder, are employed bySong troops when theJin army returns withfire arrows and gunpowder bombs made by capturedSong artisans.Kaifeng is taken.[24] |
| 1128 | China | The earliest extant depiction of acannon appears among theDazu Rock Carvings, one of which is a human figure holding a gourd shapedhand cannon.[25] | |
| 1129 | China | Gunpowder weapons are applied to naval warfare asSong warships are outfitted with trebuchets and supplies of gunpowder bombs.[26] | |
| 1132 | China | Siege of De'an:Fire lances are used bySong troops.[27][28][29] | |
| China | Gunpowder is referred to specifically for its military applications for the first time and is known as "fire bomb medicine" rather than "fire medicine".[26] | ||
| China | Firecrackers using gunpowder are mentioned for the first time.[30] | ||
| 1159 | China | Fire arrows are employed by aSong fleet in sinking aJin fleet off the shore ofShandong peninsula.[31] | |
| 1161 | 26–27 November | China | Battle of Caishi: Thunderclap bombs are employed bySong treadmill boats in sinking aJin fleet on theYangtze.[31] |
| 1163 | China | Fire lances are attached to war carts, known as "at-your-desire-war-carts", for defendingSong mobile trebuchets.[26] |
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 theSong dynasty by the mid-13th century andhand cannons are recorded to have been used in battle by theYuan dynasty in 1287. The earliest extant cannons appear inChina. TheMongols spread gunpowder weaponry toJapan,Southeast Asia, and possibly theMiddle East as well asEurope. Europe andIndia both acquire gunpowder by the end of the century, but only in the Middle East are gunpowder weapons mentioned in any detail.
| Year | Date | Region | Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1207 | China | Thunderclap bombs are employed bySong forces in a sneak attack on aJin camp, killing 2000 men and 800 horses.[18] | |
| 1221 | China | Iron casing bombs are employed byJin troops in the siege ofQi Prefecture (Hubei).[32] | |
| 1227 | China | TheWuwei Bronze Cannon, excavated in 1980, is dated to theWestern Xia (1038–1227) period. It is currently the oldest possible extant cannon, however like theHeilongjiang hand cannon it contains no inscription and dating is based on contextual evidence.[33] | |
| 1230 | China | Co-viative projectiles are added tofire lances.[34] | |
| 1231 | China | "Thunder crash bombs" are employed byJin troops in destroying aMongol warship.[35] | |
| 1232 | China | Reusablefire lance barrels made of durable paper are employed byJin troops during theSiege of Kaifeng (1232).[35] | |
| China | "Flyingfire-lances" with re-usable barrels are used in the defense ofBianjing againstMongols. Some interpret these to be rockets.[36] | ||
| 1237 | China | Large bombs requiring several hundred men to hurl using trebuchets are employed byMongols in the siege of Anfeng (modernShouxian, Anhui).[37] | |
| 1240 | Middle East | TheMiddle East acquires knowledge ofsaltpeter (Chinese snow).[38] | |
| 1241 | West | Chronicle records the use of pyrotechnic weapons against the Polish prince Henry by the Mongols in theBattle of Legnica in 1241. The same technology must have also been used same year during theMongol invasion of Hungary | |
| 1245 | China | Rockets are used during a military exercise conducted by theSong navy.[39] | |
| 1257 | China | Three hundred thirty-three "fire emitting tubes" are produced in aSong arsenal in Jiankang Prefecture (Nanjing, Jiangsu).[40][41] | |
| 1258 | India | In India, gunpowder is used in pyrotechnics.[42] | |
| 1259 | China | TheHistory of Song describes a "fire-emitting lance" employing a pellet wad projectile which occludes the barrel. Some consider this to be the first bullet.[40][41] | |
| China | The city ofQingzhou produces one to two thousand iron cased bomb shells a month and sends them in deliveries of ten to twenty thousand at a time toXiangyang and Yingzhou.[43] | ||
| 1264 | China | A display of miniaturerockets frightens theSong empress.[44] | |
| 1267 | West | In Europe gunpowder in the form of a firecracker is mentioned in textual sources byRoger Bacon, in hisOpus Majus.[45][46] | |
| 1272 | China | Battle of Xiangyang:Fire lances are used by aSong riverine relief force to repel boarders.[47] | |
| 1276 | China | The "lance" infire lance is written with the "metal"radical instead of the "wood" radical, suggesting that the barrels employed by theSong army are made of metal.[48] | |
| China | Fire lances are used bySong cavalry in combatingMongols.[47] | ||
| 1277 | China | A suicide bombing occurs in China whenSong garrisons set off a largebomb, killing themselves.[49][50] | |
| 1280 | China | "Eruptors," cannons firing co-viative projectiles, are employed in theYuan dynasty.[51] | |
| China | A major accidental explosion occurs in China when aYuan gunpowder storehouse atWeiyang,Yangzhou catches fire and explodes, killing 100 guards and hurling building materials over 5 km away.[52] | ||
| Middle East | The Middle East acquiresfire lances androckets.[53]Hasan al-Rammah writes, in Arabic, recipes for gunpowder, instructions for the purification of saltpeter, and descriptions of gunpowder incendiaries.[38] He also provides a description and illustration of the world's firsttorpedo.[54] | ||
| West | Europe acquires thegunpowder formula.[55] | ||
| 1281 | Sinosphere | Bombs are employed byMongols in theMongol invasions of Japan.[56] | |
| 1287 | China | Hand cannons are employed by the troops ofYuanJurchen commander Li Ting in putting down a rebellion byMongol princeNayan.[57] | |
| 1288 | China | TheHeilongjiang hand cannon is dated to this year based on contextual evidence and its proximity to the rebellion byMongol princeNayan, although it contains no inscription.[58][59] | |
| 1293 | Southeast Asia | Mongol troops of Yuan dynasty carried Chinese cannons toJava in 1293.[60] | |
| 1298 | China | TheXanadu Gun, the oldest confirmed extanthand cannon, is dated to this year based on its inscription and contextual evidence.[61] | |
| 1299 | Middle East | Fire lances are used in battles between theMongols andMuslims[62] | |
| 1300 | India | In IndiaMongol mercenaries deployfire arrows during a siege.[63] |
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Major developments: Chinese gunpowder weaponry continues to advance with the development of one-piece cast iron cannons, accompanying carriages, and the addition ofland mines,naval mines androcket launchers. Earliest recorded instance ofvolley fire with gunpowder weaponry, by theMing dynasty. The rest of the world catches up quickly and most ofEurasia acquires gunpowder weapons by the second half of the 14th century. Cannon development inEurope 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.
| Year | Date | Region | Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1307 | West | The Armenian monk Hetoum writes about a powerful weapon having been invented in China.[64] | |
| 1325 | China | Bronze "thousand-ball thunder-cannons" on four wheeled carriages appear in theYuan dynasty.[65] | |
| 1326 | West | In Europe the depiction of acannon appears.[66][67] | |
| 1330 | West | InAndalusia cannons are mentioned in textual sources.[68] | |
| West | Europe's oldest extant firearm, the Loshult gun, is dated to this year.[69] | ||
| 1331 | Iberia | TheNasrid army besiegingElche makes use of "iron pellets shot with fire."[70] | |
| 1333 | West | Earliest extant cannon arrow projectile is dated to this year. Now kept in theEltz Castle.[71] | |
| 1338 | West | Anorgan gun and three pounds of gunpowder are recorded to have been in the possession of a raiding party that sackedSouthampton.[66] | |
| 1339 | West | The word "cannon", derived from the Greekkanun and Latincanna, meaning "tube," is used for the first time in Europe.[72] | |
| West | The word "gun" is used to describe afirearm in English for the first time.[72] | ||
| 1340 | China | A "watermelon bomb" containing miniature rockets known as "ground rats" is employed byLiu Bowen against rebels and pirates inZhejiang.[73] | |
| 1344 | West | Wooden cannons appear in Europe.[74] | |
| 1346 | 26 August | West | Battle of Crécy:Organ guns are used.[75] |
| West | The term "bombard" is used to refer to guns of any kind.[76] | ||
| 1350 | China | Cast iron technology becomes reliable enough to make one-piece iron cannons in China.[77] | |
| China | Flint and wheel mechanisms are employed in ignitingland mines andnaval mines in China.[78] | ||
| China | In Chinaorgan guns appear.[79] | ||
| China | Two wheeled gun carriages appear in China.[80] | ||
| India | India acquires rockets.[81] | ||
| 1352 | Southeast Asia | Cannons are mentioned to have been used by theAyutthaya Kingdom in their invasion of theKhmer Empire[82] | |
| 1358 | China | Defending garrisons fire cannons en masse at the siege ofShaoxing and defeat aMing army.[83] | |
| 1360 | Middle East | In the middle east metal-barrel guns start appearing in textual sources.[68] | |
| Southeast Asia | Gunpowder barrels aboard aKhmer ship explode.[82] | ||
| 1363 | 30 August – 4 October | China | Battle of Lake Poyang: Cannons are used in ship combat and a new weapon called the "No Alternative" also appears. It consists of a reed mat bundled together with gunpowder and iron pellets hung on a pole from the foremast of a ship. When an enemy ship is within range, the fuse is lit, and the bundle falls onto the enemy ship spitting iron pellets and burning their men and sails.[84] |
| 1364 | West | Breech loading cannons start appearing in Europe.[85] | |
| 1366 | China | Two thousand four hundred large and small cannons are deployed by theMing army at the siege ofSuzhou.[83] | |
| India | TheVijayanagara Empire acquiresfirearms.[86] | ||
| 1368 | China | Crouching-tiger cannons are employed by theMing army.[87] | |
| 1370 | China | Gunpowder is corned to strengthen the explosive power ofland mines in theMing dynasty.[88] | |
| China | Cannon projectiles transition from stone to iron ammunition in theMing dynasty.[89] | ||
| 1372 | China | Cannons made specifically for naval usage appear in theMing dynasty.[90] | |
| 1373 | West | The term "hand gun", also known ashandgonne,gunnies,vasam scolpi,pot,capita, andtestes, appears in European texts for the first time.[91] | |
| 1374 | Sinosphere | Goryeo starts producinggunpowder.[92] | |
| West | Cannons breach a city wall for the first time in Europe.[64] | ||
| 1375 | West | "Basilisk" cannons appear.[93] | |
| West | A 900 kglarge-calibre gun is produced in Europe.[94] | ||
| Worldwide | Flash pans are added tohand cannons.[95] | ||
| West | European gunsmiths begin testing barrels for structural integrity, improving quality.[96] | ||
| 1377 | Sinosphere | Goryeo starts producingcannons androckets.[97][98] | |
| 1380 | China | "Wasp nest"rocket launchers are manufactured for theMing army.[73] | |
| 24 June | West | Battle of Chioggia: In Europerockets are used in battle.[99] | |
| West | Europeans develop the means to producesaltpeter for themselves.[74] | ||
| 1382 | West | European sailing ships are equipped withcannons.[100] | |
| 3 May | West | Battle of Beverhoutsveld: The first military conflict in Europe wherecannons play a decisive role.[101] | |
| 1388 | China | Ming–Mong Mao War:Volley fire is implemented withcannons by theMing artillery corps in the anti-insurrection war waged against theMong Mao.[102] | |
| West | Saltpeter plantations start appearing in Europe.[103] | ||
| 1390 | Southeast Asia | Đại Việt soldiers kill the king ofChampa, Che Bong Nga, usinghand cannons.[104] | |
| 1396 | West | In Europe mountedknights start employingfire lances.[105] | |
| 1398 | 17 December | India | Delhi Sultanate uses bombs againstTamerlane.[106] |
| 1399 | West | Germany's oldest extant firearm is dated to this year.[107] |
Major developments:Large-calibre artillery weighing several thousand kg are produced inEurope during the early 15th century and spread to theOttoman Empire. Modifiable two wheeled gun carts known aslimbers and caissons appear, greatly improving the mobility of artillery. Thematchlockarquebus, the first firearm with a trigger mechanism, appears in Europe by 1475.Rifled barrels also appear in the late 15th century. The termmusket is used for the first time in 1499.Rocket launchers are used in battle by theMing dynasty and theKorean kingdom ofJoseon develops a mobile rocket launcher vehicle called thehwacha. Chinese style bombs are used inJapan by 1468 at the latest.
| Year | Date | Region | Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1400 | West | In Europe thegunpowderslow match appears.[108] | |
| China | Li Jinglong usesrocket launchers against the army of theYongle Emperor.[73] | ||
| West | Springalds are entirely replaced by gunpowder weapons[109] | ||
| 1405 | West | Europe acquires bombs.[51] | |
| 1407 | China | Ironwood wadding is added toMing cannons, increasing their effectiveness.[110] | |
| 1409 | Sinosphere | Battle carts armed withcannons firing iron fletched darts are produced inJoseon.[111] | |
| 1410 | Sinosphere | Joseon ships are equipped with cannons.[112] | |
| West | "Culverins" are mentioned for the first time.[93] | ||
| West | "Saker" cannons appear.[93] | ||
| 1411 | West | A "serpentine" lever is added to the stocks ofhand cannons in Europe to hold matches. The resulting firearm, the hook gun, becomes known as thearquebus.[113] | |
| 1412 | China | Shells are used as ammunition in theMing dynasty.[114] | |
| 1413 | Sinosphere | Joseonmortars capable of firing 500 meter iron shots and 600 meter stone shots are mentioned.[115] | |
| Southeast Asia | The customs of firing cannons and pole gun is mentioned as part ofJavanese marriage ceremony.[116][117]: 245 | ||
| 1415 | Sinosphere | 10,000 guns are deployed throughoutJoseon[115] | |
| 1419 | China | During theLantern Festival, theMing imperial palace puts on a display of pyrotechnics involving rockets running along wires which light up lanterns, illuminating the palace.[99] | |
| 1420 | West | In Europewar wagons are used as mobile firearm platforms during theHussite Wars.[31] | |
| 1420 | Sinosphere | Iron shot replaces stone as the standard ammunition inJoseon[115] | |
| 1421 | Southeast Asia | A Chinese pole cannon found in Java is dated from this year, bearing the name ofYongle Emperor.[118][119] | |
| 1425 | West | In Europe gunpowder corning is practiced.[120] | |
| 1429 | China | Mounted infantry carryinghand cannons are employed by theMing army.[121] | |
| 1431 | West | A 12,000 kg wrought ironlarge-calibre gun capable of firing 300 kg projectiles, calledDulle Griet, is produced in Europe.[122] | |
| West | Europeancannon projectiles transition from stone to iron ammunition.[123] | ||
| 1437 | West | In Europeshells are used as ammunition.[124] | |
| West | A master gunner in Europe is forced to make a pilgrimage to Rome after scaring his fellow soldiers, who accused him of satanic devilry, with an astounding rate of fire of three rounds in one day.[125] | ||
| 1447 | Sinosphere | Sejong the Great ofJoseon decrees that all fire-squads should carry standardized firearms.[126] | |
| 1450 | West | European walls become lower and thicker in response to cannons.[127] | |
| West | Trunnions appear in Europe.[128] | ||
| 15 April | West | Battle of Formigny: Marks the rapid decline of the English longbow as they prove to be inferior to cannons in both range and rate of fire.[129] | |
| 1451 | Sinosphere | A type of multiple arrow rocket launcher known as the "MunjongHwacha" is produced inJoseon.[130] | |
| 1453 | West | Modifiable two wheeled gun carts known aslimbers appear, greatly improving cannon maneuverability and mobility.[131][128] | |
| 1456 | India | Malwa Sultanate uses cannons as siege weapons to demolish ramparts: InIndia cannons become widespread.[132][133] | |
| 1460 | 3 August | West | James II of Scotland is killed by one of his own guns, which exploded while he was standing close to it.[96] |
| West | "Mortars" are mentioned for the first time.[93] | ||
| 1464 | Middle East | A 16,800 kg cast bronzelarge-calibre gun known as theGreat Turkish Bombard is created in theOttoman Empire.[134] | |
| 1468 | Sinosphere | A Chinese "thunderbomb" made of paper and bamboo wrapping two pounds of gunpowder and iron filings is mentioned to have been in use inJapan; Chinese style bombs are used astrebuchet shots until at least 1500[132] | |
| 1470 | West | Ashoulder stock is added tohand cannons in Europe.[91] | |
| 1471 | Southeast Asia | Cham–Annamese War:Lê dynasty troops use cannons to blast a breach inVijaya's fortifications prior to capturing the city[135] | |
| 1472 | India | In Indialand mines appear;Bahmani Sultanate utilizes them in siege warfare.[136] | |
| 1475 | West | Thematchlock mechanism is added to thearquebus, making it the firstfirearm with atrigger.[137] | |
| 1479 | West | A four layerartillery tower is built at Querfurth inSaxony.[138] | |
| 1480 | West | Guns reach their classic form in Europe.[139] | |
| West | "Falconets" are mentioned for the first time.[140] | ||
| West | "Minion" cannons appear.[140] | ||
| 1486 | West | European oar ships start carryingcannons.[141] | |
| 1488 | West | Henry VII of England's ships, theRegent andSovereign, are among the first to carry enough cannons to deliver a 'ship killing' blow at a distance.[142] | |
| 1498 | West | Specialized hunting firearms withrifled barrels appear in Europe.[143] | |
| 1499 | 25 August | West | Battle of Zonchio:Breech-loading iron cannons are used in naval warfare.[144] |
| West | The termmusket ormoschetto is used for the first time in Europe.[91] |
Major developments:Matchlock firearms spread throughoutEurasia, reachingChina andJapan by the mid-16th century. Thevolley fire technique is implemented using matchlock firearms by theOttomans,Ming dynasty, andDutch Republic by the end of the century. Thearquebus is replaced by its heavier variant called themusket to combat heavily armoured troops. "Musket" becomes the dominant term for all shoulder arms fireweapons until the mid-19th century. Thewheellock andflintlock trigger mechanisms are invented.Pistols andrevolvers both appear during this period. Ottoman troops attachbayonets to their firearms. Both Europe and China develop handheld breech loading firearms. Thestar fort spreads across Europe in response to increasing effectiveness of siege artillery. The Ming dynasty uses gunpowder forhydraulic engineering.
| Year | Date | Region | Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1500 | India | India acquiresmatchlocks.[145] | |
| West | The term "artillery" solidifies as a general term for cannons, their ammunition, support equipment, and operating personnel.[72] | ||
| 1503 | 28 April | West | Battle of Cerignola: Marks the first military conflict where arquebusiers played a decisive role.[146] |
| 1505 | West | Thewheellock appears in Europe as an expensive alternative to thematchlock.[91] | |
| 1508 | India | India acquires Portuguese cannons.[147] | |
| West | The earliest extantrifles are dated to this year.[91] | ||
| 1510 | Sinosphere | Japan acquires cannons.[148] | |
| China | Portuguese "Frankish" cannons are used onGuangdong's coastline by Chinese pirates.[149] | ||
| 1515 | West | A man in (Germany) accidentally shoots a prostitute in the chin with apistol. Considered to be the earliest recorded firearm accident.[150] | |
| 1516 | Southeast Asia | Đại Việt andLê dynasty producematchlocks.[151] | |
| 1521 | West | A largerarquebus capable of penetrating plate armor known as themusket appears in Europe.[152] | |
| 1523 | China | TheMing dynasty producesbreech-loading swivel guns based on Portuguese designs.[149] | |
| 1526 | 21 April | India | Mughal EmperorBabur use firearms against SultanIbrahim Lodi, therefore winning theFirst Battle of Panipat. |
| 29 August | West | Battle of Mohács:Volley fire is implemented withmatchlocks byOttomanJanissaries.[153] | |
| 1527 | West | "Ordnance" is used to describe artillery for the first time.[154] | |
| 1530 | West | Thestar fort becomes the dominant type of defensive structure in Italy.[155] | |
| West | Earliest dated "carbine" made inAugsburg.[91] | ||
| 1533 | China | Composite metal cannons are produced in theMing dynasty.[156][157][158] | |
| 1537 | West | Handheldbreech-loading firearms start appearing in Europe.[159] | |
| West | Niccolò Fontana Tartaglia applies mathematical applications to artillery trajectories in hisNova Scientia.[160] | ||
| 1540 | West | Cast iron cannons in Europe become reliable enough to arm sailing ships with two full broadsides.[161] | |
| Southeast Asia | In Southeast Asiamatchlocks start seeing widespread use.[162] | ||
| West | Cavalry in Europe start abandoning the lance and adopt thewheellockpistol.[163] | ||
| 1541 | China | Gunpowder is used forhydraulic engineering in theMing dynasty.[164] | |
| 1543 | Sinosphere | Japan acquires knowledge ofmatchlocks.[162] | |
| 1544 | 27 January | Sinosphere | In Japan Tanegashima Tokitaka employsmatchlocks in the invasion ofYakushima.[165] |
| West | Wooden cannons are used for the last time in Europe.[166] | ||
| West | Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor attempts to standardize gun types.[167] | ||
| 1545 | India | Gujarat experiments with composite metal cannons.[158] | |
| West | Niccolò Fontana Tartaglia invents the gunner's quadrant, an instrument which calculates trajectory.[160] | ||
| 1548 | China | TheMing army starts fieldingmatchlocks.[168] | |
| 1550 | West | The largearquebus known as themusket becomes obsolete due to lack of armor, but continues as the most widely used term for similarfirearms in Europe.[169] | |
| West | Thesnaphanceflintlock mechanism appears in Europe.[170] | ||
| West | The 'flask trail' carriage replaces solid stock trail carriages in Europe.[171] | ||
| 1560 | China | Qi Jiguang publishes hisJixiao Xinshu describing themusketvolley fire technique and his experience training theMing army in its use.[172] | |
| 1561 | China | TheMing dynasty starts producing handheldbreech-loading firearms.[173][174] | |
| 1563 | Sinosphere | Joseon starts producingbreech-loading swivel guns.[175] | |
| 1568 | West | Calivers are mentioned for the first time in Europe.[91] | |
| 1573 | West | In Europe explosivemines are implemented by Samuel Zimmermann ofAugsburg.[176] | |
| 1574 | West | In Europe designs fornaval mines are completed.[177] | |
| 1575 | 28 June | Sinosphere | Battle of Nagashino: In JapanOda Nobunaga'stanegashima troops employvolley fire.[162] |
| West | Trigger guards start appearing on Europeanfirearms.[169] | ||
| 1580 | West | Revolvers appear in Europe.[178] | |
| 1594 | 8 December | West | William Louis, Count of Nassau-Dillenburg describes the countermarchvolley fire technique in a letter to his cousinMaurice, Prince of Orange, and starts training the Dutch army in volley fire.[179] |
| 1598 | China | Ming cavalry experiments with firing a three-barreledmatchlock before using it as a shield while they attack with a saber using their other hand.[180] | |
| Middle East | The first mention of abayonet occurs in theShenqipu describing a knife attached to anOttoman musket.[181] | ||
| 1600 | Middle East | Ottoman cavalry starts carryingpistols.[182] | |
| West | The term "howitzer" comes to refer to the weapon.[183] |
_MET_DT772.jpg)
Major developments:Bayonets spread acrossEurasia. Apaper cartridge is introduced byGustavus Adolphus.Rifles are used for war byDenmark. Aship of the line carrying 60 to 120 cannons appears in Europe.Samuel Pepys' diary mentions a machine gun like pistol. The "true"flintlock replaces thesnaphance flintlock in Europe by the end of the 17th century. BothChina andJapan reject the flintlock and theMughal Empire only uses it in limited quantities. Gunpowder is used formining inEurope.
| Year | Date | Region | Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1606 | China | Ming muskets are attached with plugbayonets.[184] | |
| 1607 | Sinosphere | Joseonmusketeers are trained in thevolley fire technique.[185] | |
| 1611 | West | Paper cartridges are introduced byGustavus Adolphus.[186] | |
| West | Rifles are used in warfare byDenmark.[91] | ||
| 1613 | Sinosphere | In JapanDate Masamune orders the construction of theDate Maru, a ship built in the style of a Spanishgalleon, capable of carrying large cannons.[187] | |
| 1619 | 14–18 April | Sinosphere | Battle of Sarhu:Later Jin cavalry defeatsMing andJoseonmusketeers.[188] |
| 1620 | China | Ming foundries start producingHongyipao.[156] | |
| 1627 | West | Gunpowder is used for mining in Europe.[189] | |
| 1629 | West | Holland experiments with composite metal cannons.[158] | |
| 1632 | China | Ming defensive planners build somestar forts but they don't catch on in China.[190] | |
| 1633 | China | Ming dockyards start construction of multideckedbroadsidesailing ships capable of holding large cannons under the supervision ofZheng Zhilong.[191] | |
| 1635 | China | Telescopes are used for aiming artillery in theMing dynasty.[192] | |
| 1636 | Sinosphere | TheDutch attempt to tradeflintlock firearms with the Japanese but the new firing mechanism doesn't catch on in Japan.[78] | |
| 1637 | Sinosphere | Shimabara Rebellion: In Japan the last major military engagement involvingmuskets, before firearm suppression policies are enacted, is conducted against an uprising of peasant-farmers and landlesssamurai.[193] | |
| 1642 | 20 January | China | Li Zicheng's rebels manage to create a twozhang breach inMing fortifications using cannons.[194] |
| 1643 | 26 July | West | Storming of Bristol: In Europefire lances are used for the last time.[195] |
| 1650 | West | Ship of the line carrying 60 to 120 cannons in broadside batteries appear in Europe.[196] | |
| 1662 | 3 July | West | Samuel Pepys' diary mentions a mechanic who claimed to be able to make a machine-gun like pistol.[197][198] |
| 1671 | West | European forces attachbayonets to their firearms.[181] | |
| 1680 | West | Thesnaphance goes out of fashion in favor of the "true"flintlock in Europe.[169] | |
| 1694 | India | India acquiresflintlocks;Mughal Empire uses them in limited quantities.[199] |
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Major developments:Flintlocks completely displacematchlock firearms inEurope 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. TheKingdom of Mysore deploys iron cased rockets known asMysorean rockets.
| Year | Date | Region | Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1702 | West | In Europetelescopes are used to aid in the aiming of artillery.[200] | |
| 1715 | West | Jean Maritz introduces the horizontal drilling technique for casting cannons, increasing their reliability and accuracy while reducing the amount of metal needed for the barrel.[201] | |
| 1718 | West | James Puckle invents thePuckle gun, abreech loadingflintlock with a revolving set of chambers capable of firing 63 shots in seven minutes.[198] | |
| 1720 | West | France establishes Europe's first national artillery school.[202] | |
| 1725 | West | Flintlock firearms completely displacematchlocks in Europe.[170] | |
| 1742 | West | Benjamin Robins invents theballistic pendulum, which provides the first way to accurately measure the velocity of a bullet.[203] | |
| 1750 | Worldwide | Firearms overtake thecomposite bow in cost, ease of use, range, and rate of fire, making mountedhorse archers completely obsolete.[204] | |
| West | Adetent is added toflintlocks to prevent the sear from catching in the half-cock notch.[91] | ||
| 1755 | West | Naval guns are outfitted withflintlocks[205] | |
| 1759 | West | "Carronades" appear.[206] | |
| 1770 | West | Aroller bearing is added toflintlocks to reduce friction and produce more sparks.[91] | |
| 1780 | West | A waterproof pan is added toflintlocks.[91] | |
| 1783 | West | Sir William Congreve, 1st Baronet improves gunpowder production by constructing dedicated testing ranges, newsaltpeter refineries, and special proving houses. He also discovers "cylinder powder", gunpowder produced usingcharcoal sealed in iron cylinders, which is twice as powerful as traditional gunpowder and less likely to spoil, givingBritish gunpowder a reputation as best in the world.[207] | |
| 1790 | West | England begins fieldingblock trail carriages, invented bySir William Congreve, 1st Baronet, the most advanced artillery transport of the time.[208] | |
| 1799 | 22 April | India | Iron-casedMysorean rockets are deployed by theKingdom of Mysore against theEast India Company.[209] |
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Major developments:Sir William Congreve, 2nd Baronet develops theCongreve rockets based onMysorean rockets and British forces successfully deploy them againstCopenhagen.Joshua Shaw inventspercussion caps which replace theflintlock trigger mechanism.Claude-Étienne Minié invents theMinié ball, makingrifles a viable military firearm, ending the era ofsmoothboremuskets. Subsequently rifles are deployed in theCrimean War with resounding success.Benjamin Tyler Henry invents theHenry rifle, the first reliable repeating rifle.Richard Jordan Gatling invents theGatling gun, capable of firing 200 cartridges in a minute.Hiram Maxim invents theMaxim gun, the first single-barreled machine gun. BothChina andEurope start using cast iron molds for casting cannons.Alfred Nobel inventsdynamite, 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.
| Year | Date | Region | Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1803 | West | England starts producingshrapnel shells.[210] | |
| 1804 | West | Sir William Congreve, 2nd Baronet starts experimenting extensively withrockets based onMysorean rockets.[209] | |
| 1805 | West | Congreve rockets are produced in Britain.[211] | |
| 1807 | West | British forces successfully deploy 40,000rockets and ignite devastating fires inCopenhagen[212] | |
| 1812 | West | Jean Samuel Pauly invents a cartridge containing aprimer, making it the first self-containedcartridge.[213] | |
| West | Joseph Manton patents the gravitating lock, which prevents muzzle loaders from accidentally firing while the muzzle is held upward.[91] | ||
| 1815 | West | Joshua Shaw inventspercussion caps.[214] | |
| 1820 | West | British guns are manufactured withbouched vents.[215] | |
| 1825 | West | Thepercussion cap mechanism starts replacingflintlocks in Europe.[216] | |
| 1829 | West | Rocket programs incontinental Europe fizzle out as poor performance lead to their rejection until the 20th century.[217] | |
| 1830 | West | Thepercussion cap becomes the most widely accepted firing mechanism in Europe.[214] | |
| 1831 | West | William Bickford invents thesafety fuse.[218] | |
| 1835 | West | Casimir Lefaucheux invents the first practicalbreech loading firearm with acartridge.[219] | |
| 1836 | West | Johann Nicolaus von Dreyse invents theDreyse needle gun, abreech loading rifle, increasing the rate of fire to six times that of muzzle loading weapons.[219] | |
| 1837 | West | Edward Alfred Cowper uses gunpowder explosions as railway fog-signals to alert the locomotive crew of danger.[220] | |
| 1841 | China | Wei Yuan recommends the incorporation offlintlock firearms into theQing army butmatchlocks continue to be used.[216] | |
| 1845 | China | Gong Zhenlin invents cast iron molds for the casting of iron cannons.[192] | |
| 1849 | West | Claude-Étienne Minié invents theMinié ball and makes the rifle a viable military firearm, ending thesmoothboremusket era.[221] | |
| 1854 | West | Rifles are deployed during theCrimean War with resounding success, proving to be vastly superior to smoothbore muskets.[221] | |
| West | Volcanic Repeating Arms produces a rifle with a self-containedcartridge.[213] | ||
| 1855 | West | TheElswick Ordnance Company starts producing theArmstrong Gun.[157] | |
| West | Edward Boxer usesrockets for throwing life-lines to shipwrecked sailors.[220] | ||
| 1860 | West | Benjamin Tyler Henry invents theHenry rifle, the first reliablerepeating rifle.[222] | |
| 1861 | West | Richard Jordan Gatling invents theGatling gun, capable of firing 200 gunpowder cartridges in a minute.[223] | |
| 1862 | China | TheQing dynasty starts production ofpercussion caps forrifles.[224] | |
| China | Li Xiucheng of theTaiping army equips his army with foreign rifles.[78] | ||
| 1863 | West | Alfred Nobel inventsdynamite, the first stable explosive stronger than gunpowder.[218] | |
| 1864 | China | Li Hongzhang of theQing dynasty equips his army with 15,000 foreign rifles.[78] | |
| 1873 | West | Winchester Repeating Arms Company introduces the Model 1873Winchester rifle.[222] | |
| West | In Europe cast iron molds are utilized in casting cannons.[192] | ||
| 1877 | 20 July – 10 December | West | Siege of Plevna: The first time metallic cartridgerepeating rifles have a large impact in battle.[222] |
| 1880 | West | Smokeless powder is invented and starts replacinggunpowder, also known as black powder.[225] | |
| 1884 | West | Hiram Maxim invents theMaxim gun, the first single-barreled machine gun.[223] | |
| 1886 | West | A safer and more stable form ofsmokeless powder is invented in France.[223] | |
| 1890 | West | European countries transition tosmokeless powder, which is referred to as "gunpowder", whereas the old mixture is known as "black powder".[226] |
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Major developments:Smokeless powder replaces traditional "black powder" across the globe, ending the gunpowder age.
| Year | Date | Region | Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1902 | Worldwide | Smokeless powder is adopted nearly everywhere in the world and "black powder" is relegated to hobbyist usage, ending the Gunpowder Age.[225] |
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