ABSTRACT

From the earliest days of prehistory man has used his ingenuity to devise weapons capable of killing at a distance. All of the early primitive weapons utilised his muscular power to achieve this end. The stone or spear could be released instantly so as to be thrown a short distance. The bow stored this energy inside a tensioned structure to allow its instantaneous release. However, to achieve greater range and power it was necessary to devise a completely new energy source. Crude chemical mixtures resembling gunpowder are known to have been used in fireworks over 1000 years ago in China and India. However, in Europe it is generally accepted that Roger Bacon was the first person to mention and record the formulation of true gunpowder, an intimate mixture of saltpetre, sulphur and charcoal, around the year 1250.