Case Study

Case Study: Gunpowder Technologies in the Gunpowder Empires

By: Karen Angeles

The Creation of Gunpowder

        Gunpowder was first discovered accidentally in Han China by alchemists trying to formulate an elixir that would grant immortality. It is not known exactly when it was created, but an alchemist by the name of Wei Boyang was the first person known to write about the chemical composition of gunpowder. In his account, he tells about three powders (sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate) that when combined together, would "fly and dance violently.”

    In the beginning, gunpowder was used by the Tang Dynasty around 700 A.D. to create firework displays. However, Chinese inventors in 904 A.D. found that when small stone balls were put inside bamboo tubes along with gunpowder, when the gunpowder was lighted, the stone ball shot out powerfully. This invention was the first form of a modern-day rocket and was used as a model for the development of guns and cannons. By the end of the 13th century, the Chinese had invented small handguns to be used in warfare.

    Even though the Chinese tried to hide their discovery, Islamic traders and travelers soon found out about the gunpowder and brought the discovery with them to the Middle East. Islamic interaction with Europe in the form of religious wars and trade brought gunpowder to Europe.

Chinese man lighting a firework for a celebration during the Tang Dynasty.

Gunpowder was also known as "black powder" in Europe and in the Middle East.

The Gunpowder Empires of Asia

The Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal empires obtained gunpowder from China earlier than European empires because of they were located closer to China. These three empires were known for their extensive use of firearms, like cannons and guns, to expand and control their empires. Their military technology also allowed them to keep control on East-West trade routes which brought them wealth and innovations.

Ottoman soldier with a matchlock musket.

Shah Ismail in battle with Shaybani Khan in 1510.

A Mughal infantry soldier (left). Mughal artillerymen form Akbar's army using a canon (right).

    The Ottomans were one of the first empires that used gunpowder weapons to help them conquer parts of the Middle East, North Africa, and the Balkans in Europe. The city of Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Turks in 1453. A great part of the Ottoman success can be attributed to the use of not only “foot soldiers,” but to gunpowder weapons. The Ottomans used guns a well as cannons to fire at the forces of Constantinople, and eventually overtook them.

    The Ottoman army included matchlock muskets in their artillery soon after their development. They had a long muzzle to help fire at a greater distance, and that thanks to the matchlock, did not required to be lit by hand. This new feature allowed the soldier to keep both eyes on the target and to use both hands to hold the musket. With these muskets, the Ottoman army was also able to defeat the Persian in 1514. One of the Ottoman’s greatest advantages over the Persians was that the Persians did not have as advanced gunpowder artillery and relied mostly on swords.

    By the 17th century however, the Ottomans did not adopt as many new gunpowder technologies as rapidly as before. Instead, they continued to use their cavalry heavily and relied on “past” technologies that were not convenient and could not compete with other weapons. Later conflicts with Europe, like the Battle of Saint Gotthard, resulted in the defeat of the Ottoman army because of their ineffective use of canons. Raimondo Montecuccoli, the Hapsburg commander that defeated the Turks, illustrated the drawbacks of Ottoman weapons by commenting that:

   “This enormous artillery produces great damage when it hits, but it is awkward to move and it requires too much time to reload and site. Furthermore, it consumes a great amount of powder, besides cracking and breaking the wheels and the carriages and even the ramparts on which it is placed . . . our artillery is more handy and more efficient and here resides our advantage over the cannon of the Turks.”

    The Safavid Empire also relied heavily on the use of gunpowder weapons as a source of power and control. Shah Ismail led his army to present-day Iran to establish a new Persian empire. There, he established the Shiite Islamic religion as the dominant faith of his empire. After his death, Shah Abbas was able to drive out the Ottomans and other foreign invaders of the empire. His army had a vast use of military technology, including muskets and other artillery, which helped his forces defeat the “enemy.” He further divided his army into three groups: slaves, musketeers, and artillerymen, to more effectively attack the opposing side. In order to maintain his military success, he had to expand trade and industry, as well as create an efficient system of communication. The expansion of trade and industry brought increased his wealth, allowing him to invest in and mandufacturegunpowder weapons of higher quality in greater quantities.This not only allowed him to maintain a strong military able to control and expand, but it also increased the empire’s wealth.

    The Mughal Empire was located in present-day India. It’s most famous ruler, Akbar, expanded the empire to encompass northern and part of central India. Akbar extended his empire to include all of northern and part of central India. His success was partly due to not only the structure and organization of his government, but to his powerful military. His infantry was heavily armed with muskets and cannons, while his rivals were unable to afford heavy artillery and provide their infantry with guns, thus giving them a great disadvantage to Akbar’s forces.

    This excerpt from An Account of India and the Great Moghul, 1655, by François Bernier, highlights the impressive size of the Mughal Empire. The expansion was possible due to the empire's superior military armed with gunpowder weaponry. Firearms also allowed the rulers of the Mughal empire to bring down any revolts from the people they oversaw and to defend the empire against threats from neighboring empires and tribes.

    "My lord, you may have seen before this, by the maps of Asia, how great every way is the extent of the empire of the Great Mogul, which is commonly called India or Indostan. I have not measured it mathematically; but to speak of it according to the ordinary journeys of the country, after the rate of three whole months' march, traversing from the frontiers of the kingdom of Golconda as far as beyond Kazni near Kandahar, which is the first town of Persia, I cannot but persuade myself otherwise but that it is at least five times as far as from Paris to Lyons, that is, about five hundred common leagues. . ."

Full Document: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/indi/1655bernier.asp

Summary: The Impact of Gunpowder

    The advancement in the development of gunpowder weapons allowed the three Gunpowder Empires to expand their empires and to control them. The Ottomans conquered most of the Islamic world. Even though they had a long period of decline, they were able to keep their empire until its fall in 1914. The longevity of their empire is a sign of how powerful the Ottomans were.
    The Safavid Empire, although not as large and powerful as the Ottoman empire, had an influence in the region that can be seen today. Their establishment of Shiite Islam is still present today in Iran. Since most Middle Eastern countries practice Sunni Islam, it has created a divide within the Middle East.
    After the death of Akbar, the ruler of the Mughal Empire in India, costly military campaigns, religious conflicts, and unsuccessful rulers eventually led to the fall of the empire into the hands of the British. Their power however, can still be seen in their architecture in buildings like the Taj Mahal and Hamayun's Tomb. Those buildings represent the power and wealth of the Mughal empire, which came greatly form their successful military that possessed gunpowder weapons.

Picture of the Taj Mahal.

Works Cited

"An Account of India and the Great Moghul." Internet History Sourcebooks Project. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Feb. 2013.
"Early Modern Warfare." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 02 June 2013. Web. 07 Feb. 2013.
"Gunpowder in Ancient China." Ancient China for Kids. Portland State University, n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2013.
"The Rise of the Gunpowder Empires." Salem Press. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Feb. 2013.
Mr. Marc Compton