Gunpowder (Bryan Min)

Gunpowder was one of the most phenomenal inventions during the modern history era. Every single war from Chinese Empires to the Americans was fought with gunpowder weapons. Invented by the Song Dynasty, on the 9th century, this innovative weapon was intended to be a potion of immortality. The Song Dynasty invented many other things such as paper money and compasses. On around 900 AD, Taoist monks created new elixirs and medicine to cure specific illnesses. By mixing saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal, they accidentally created a dangerously flammable explosive. That eventually became the gunpowder that we know to this date. Finally realizing that this could be used as a weapon, Chinese military started to bring in gunpowder weapons into wars against the Mongols. Some of the weapons that were invented were explosives, cannons, and guns.

By experimenting to grasp an understanding of this mysterious mixture, the Chinese people created rockets that held gunpowder in it. By making a stand for it, they would set fire to the gunpowder for the rocket to shoot up. That was the most basic invention. Later throughout history, Europeans made shotguns with small bullets that held gunpowder in it. It was the same concept of what the Chinese made, but the mechanism was built smaller to fit for a person to carry. Soon after, many more guns were made with more capabilities such as the small revolver and automated guns. Not only did China create a special dust, but they also created a new era of this world.

Thanks to gunpowder, China's dominance could never be ended against the old swords and spears. This secret dust was admired by everyone from around the world. Using the Silk Road, people would trade anything for this unique weapon. The Europeans traded the gunpowder and took advantage of it. In Europe, constant wars were happening between 1450 and 1750. The advantage about guns were that you were able to kill enemies without risking your own life. Since the Europeans perfected this dangerous mixture, they used it to conquer lands. After that, settlements of no gunpowder weapons started to fade away, making gunpowder eventually being a necessity for survival. As time went by, guns started to become more efficient, and replaced the gunpowder with a different black dust. However, gunpowder is still used to this date. Fireworks and other things are still being done with gunpowder. This powder became a phenomenal creation to this world, and it marked an important part in the history of this world.