Science and Civilisation in China, Part 7, Military Technology: The Gunpowder EpicThe Gunpowder Epic is one of three planned publications on military technology within Dr Needham's immense undertaking. The discovery of gunpowder in China by the 9th century AD was followed by its rapid applications. It is now clear that the whole development from bombs and grenades to the invention of the metal-barrel hand gun took place in the Chinese culture area before Europeans had any knowledge of the mixture itself. Uses in civil engineering and mechanical engineering were equally important, before the knowledge of gunpowder spread to Europe in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. Dr Needham's new work continues to demonstrate the major importance of Chinese science and technology to world history and maintains the tradition of one of the great scholarly works of the twentieth century. |
Common terms and phrases
14th century Arabic Arima arquebus arrows arsenic artillery auct bamboo barrel Blackmore bombards bombs breech-loading bronze cannon Chao Chen Chêng Chhen chhung Chiao chien Chin China Chinese Ching Tsung Yao co-viative projectiles dynasty emperor enemy engine eruptor Europe explosive Fêng Chia-Shêng fire-lance fire-weapons firearms fireworks flame-thrower flames Greek Fire gunpowder weapons hand-guns History history of gunpowder hsiao Hsin Hsü Huo Lung Ching huo yao ignition illustration incendiary invention iron Jurchen Kung later London matchlock mêng metal-barrel Ming Dynasty mixture Mongols Museum musket naphtha Needham nitrate Partington Peking phao Photo Pien Ping Ping Lu powder reign-period rocket-arrow rockets saltpetre shen siege sulphur Sung Technology Thang thien thung Tower of London trebuchet Tshao tube Wang Wang Ling WCTY Wên Wu Ching Tsung Wu Pei Chih Yuan Yuan Dynasty