Gunpowder - Revision history

Eli Bishop: /* See also */

2026-03-25T06:25:52Z

Eli Bishop at 06:21, 25 March 2026

2026-03-25T06:21:50Z

Eli Bishop at 06:46, 25 November 2013

2013-11-25T06:46:47Z

Eli Bishop at 01:32, 29 July 2013

2013-07-29T01:32:48Z

Eli Bishop: Created page with "Mixing {{Ix|Salt 4|sulfur}}, {{Ix|Saul & Peter|saltpeter}}, and {{Ix|charcoal}} makes a black explosive powder. This was likely known at least a thousand years ago, although p..."

2013-07-29T01:32:42Z

Created page with "Mixing {{Ix|Salt 4|sulfur}}, {{Ix|Saul & Peter|saltpeter}}, and {{Ix|charcoal}} makes a black explosive powder. This was likely known at least a thousand years ago, although p..."

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Mixing {{Ix|Salt 4|sulfur}}, {{Ix|Saul & Peter|saltpeter}}, and {{Ix|charcoal}} makes a black explosive powder. This was likely known at least a thousand years ago, although projectile weapons were a late development; early explosives were used for fireworks. [[Roger Bacon]] is often credited with rediscovering gunpowder in Europe, or possibly borrowing it from Middle Eastern sources, in the 13th century; the German monk Berthold Schwartz experimented with it slightly later.

Once you know the ratio of ingredients, black powder is very easy (though [[A_207_29|dangerous]]) to produce. But the ingredients would not be easily available to everyone in a preindustrial society in Europe. Sulfur has to be mined (mostly in Italy); saltpeter can be mined, and can also be manufactured by composting, but the latter method was not generally known in the Middle Ages. So, for a while, it seemed that rulers had a chance of keeping a lid on the ultimate weapon. Nevertheless the conspirators of the Gunpowder Plot in 1605 (still commemorated in England on Guy Fawkes Day) managed to smuggle nearly two tons of powder for a failed attempt to blow up the government.

In modern times, gunpowder is still made using basically the same formula, but amateur demolitionists and terrorists are more likely to use ammonium nitrate-based explosives, such as the one used in the Oklahoma City bombing. Ammonium nitrate produces a more powerful explosion than saltpeter, and is widely available in fertilizers and thus nearly impossible to regulate. {{By|EB}}

[http://riv.co.nz/rnza/hist/gun/gunpdr.htm New Zealand Artillery Association: Gunpowder] (historical notes)
[http://cator.hsc.edu/~kmd/caveman/projects/gunpowder/ Caveman to Chemist] (do it yourself)

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 == See also ==
-;[https://web.archive.org/web/20120517110847/http://riv.co.nz/rnza/hist/gun/gunpdr.htm New Zealand Artillery Association: Gunpowder]
+;[https://web.archive.org/web/20120517110847/http://riv.co.nz/rnza/hist/gun/gunpdr.htm New Zealand Artillery Association: Gunpowder] ''(archived)''
 : historical notes
-;[https://web.archive.org/web/20030212073800/http://cator.hsc.edu/~kmd/caveman/projects/gunpowder/ Caveman to Chemist]
+;[https://web.archive.org/web/20030212073800/http://cator.hsc.edu/~kmd/caveman/projects/gunpowder/ Caveman to Chemist] ''(archived)''
 : do it yourself

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 == See also ==
-;[http://riv.co.nz/rnza/hist/gun/gunpdr.htm New Zealand Artillery Association: Gunpowder]
+;[https://web.archive.org/web/20120517110847/http://riv.co.nz/rnza/hist/gun/gunpdr.htm New Zealand Artillery Association: Gunpowder]
 : historical notes
-;[http://cator.hsc.edu/~kmd/caveman/projects/gunpowder/ Caveman to Chemist]
+;[https://web.archive.org/web/20030212073800/http://cator.hsc.edu/~kmd/caveman/projects/gunpowder/ Caveman to Chemist]
 : do it yourself

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 In modern times, gunpowder is still made using basically the same formula, but amateur demolitionists and terrorists are more likely to use ammonium nitrate-based explosives, such as the one used in the Oklahoma City bombing. Ammonium nitrate produces a more powerful explosion than saltpeter, and is widely available in fertilizers and thus nearly impossible to regulate. {{By|EB}}
-[http://riv.co.nz/rnza/hist/gun/gunpdr.htm New Zealand Artillery Association: Gunpowder] (historical notes)<br>
+== See also ==
-[http://cator.hsc.edu/~kmd/caveman/projects/gunpowder/ Caveman to Chemist] (do it yourself)