Gunpowder Summary

The Invention of Gunpowder and Its Introduction Into Europe Overview Black powder, now known as gunpowder, was the chief tool of war until the modern discovery of explosives such as nitrocellulose and... Read more

Gunpowder Gunpowder, the oldest known explosive, was probably discovered in China during the tenth century, though some sources cite a much earlier date. It consists of a mixture of saltpeter (potassi... Read more