How Did Anderson Use Gunpowder

1596 Words7 Pages

Gunpowder is a deadly accident. After being discovered by an ancient Chinese alchemist in 142 AD, the Chinese found multiple uses for it, one being in warfare, changing their standards of fighting. Gunpowder was introduced to Europe because opposing armies had started to use it. It traveled to Europe along the Silk Road, which allowed it to expand to the rest of the world. Europeans discovered new ways to use gunpowder more efficiently in battle and created better, more efficient guns and canonry. Gunpowder is responsible for a style of fighting; battles becoming more gruesome. Gunpowder originated in ancient China in approximately the year 142 AD. The story goes that a Chinese Taoist, named Wei Boyang, was trying to find an elixir that …show more content…

Swords and knives, as well as most forms of shields, bows and arrows, and armor can last through multiple battles. Bullets can only be shot once, and if lucky, can be salvaged into a form of scrap metal. Most of the time this is not the case. This led to expenses due to the amount of money it would cost to import the required materials to make gunpowder. Anderson writes “The great demand for [saltpeter] in the periods of European warfare, combined with the distance whence bought, rendered saltpeter a truly valuable article.” Anderson worked and studied at Ishaphore Mills in Bengal, and had recorded the costs to import and export gunpowder throughout the world. In earlier times of history, they did not have access to airplanes or even cars. Most places, like Bengal, did not have enough money to build a system of railroads, and rather had to transport materials, like gunpowder, using less convenient methods like horse and carriage, which added to its …show more content…

“... he recognized the danger of the invention and so recorded the information only as an anagram, a code that remained unbroken for centuries.” Even Bacon clearly recognized that the brilliant invention of gunpowder would lead to mass harm. Not only did it affect battles during wars, but also helped pirates steal and become a bigger threat. Pirates fought battles between ships, and would try to either invade the opposing ship to steal resources or kill the crew. The pirate’s goal is to make money and his “treasure” revolves around stealing whatever they can. To achieve their goal, they would use cannons and large guns to take down ships. “[Bar and Chain shot cannon balls] were designed specifically to damage a ship's rigging and sails. These shots could cause major damage, wrapping around masts and reducing them to splinters, or taking out whole sails by simply ripping them to shreds.” These cannon balls were a special technique that the pirates used to prevent their enemies from sailing away, and it made the fight a lot easier for them. Pirates use of gunpowder created more deaths and trauma for victims of their attacks if they even survived their