Ask Me Everything'9

What is gunpowder

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Gunpowder is an explosive mixture of sulfur, charcoal, and saltpet (potassium nitrate). In the past, saltpet was obtained from urine or animal manure. Gunpowder manufacturers collected urine in large vats and filtered it through straw to extract the nitrate salts.

Gunpowder

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How to: fire a cannon at sea

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side

Open

the

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hatch

the

ship

front

the

cannon

secure

the

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FAST FACTS

How gunpowder changed warfare

01: Firearms (guns) first appeared in Europę in the early 1300s.

02: Cannons could be used to knock down walls, so sieges became morę common.

03: Bullets could penetrate armor and bring down horses from greater distances.

04: Gunpowder and weapons became so expensive that only kings could afford to go to war.

05: Unarmed nations were unable to resist armed invaders. As a result, European nations were able to colonize most of the world.

WHATS IN A NAME?

A gun that fires a heavy projectile is called a cannon, which comes from the Latin word

canna, meaning “tubę” or “stick”.

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cannon through

W m Clean the barrel of the cannon—use a damp sponge to put out any sparks from the previous shot.

Sponge on a stick

shot

Push a gunpowder charge down the barrel with a rammer. Then insert a ropę wad and add the shot.

Rammer

Powder

charge

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Cannonball

Heavy round bali usually madę of iron. Used to put holes in enemy ships.

Chain shot

Two or morę cannonballs linked by a Chain. Used to tear down a ship’s rigging.

Canister shot

Two or morę pieces of shot connected by a bar.

canvas bag. Used to maim or kill the enemy.

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