Gunpowder Discussion Questions

1. What was an alchemist and what was his goal?

2. What were the three main ingredients that the Chinese mixed to make their
early gunpowder?

3. What was the fire-lance and how was it used by the Chinese millitary?

4. How did the Mongol nomads first learn about gunpowder technology?

5. In what way did Europe help to spread gunpowder technology throughout the world?

6. How did the expansion of European trade affect Chinese technology?

7. What kind of flammable substances were Islamic people accustomed to prior to gunpowder?

8. What two things were Islamic alchemists in search of?

9. What are the ingredients of Ali's fire resistant paint?

10.What year did Islamic engineers create a bamboo shoot gun?

11. Which groups/countries have claimed to be the inventor of gunpowder?

12. What is Mir Fatehullah Khan known as the "father" of?

13. What is the downfall to the theory that Islamic people invented gunpowder?

14. Which two men are involved in the controversy of who was the European father of gunpowder?

15. What is the name of Francis Bacon's book?

16. Who is the inventor of the European rifle?

17. What was corned gunpowder?

18. How did European gunpowder technology return to China?