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The
Forerunners of Gunpowder in Europe |
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Gunpowder was able to reach Europe through the rich trade routes of
the Silk Road. The refinement and chemical structure of gunpowder
was complete when it reached Europe; however it took a man named
Francis Bacon to record the actual chemicals needed for gunpowder.
Bacon's book Opus Magnusset fourth the marvels of the world,
and also contained the ingredients of gunpowder. With the
ingredients of gunpowder revealed European scientists, inventors and
alchemists were ready to improve gunpowder.
A German by
the name of Berthold Schwarz was accredited with inventing the
European rifle. The interesting twist is found within the inventors
nationality. Translations of his name from old text suggest that
Schwarz may have been black or of Asiatic descent. Schwarz's Asian
ethnicity would help support the presence of gunpowder in China,
Islam and India years prior before it reached other European
countries. |
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German alchemist Berthold Schwarz, shown in
this picture mixing gunpowder while an assistant works with a
cannon. |
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