It has been said that it was used in China as early as the year A. D. 85, and that the knowledge of it was conveyed to us from the Arabs, on the return of the Crusaders to Europe.
Known in India, A. D. 250.
The Brahmas and Indians, whose practice is recorded by Philostratus, in his life of Appolonius Tyanœus, written about 1600 years ago. “These truly wise men,” says he, “dwell between the rivers Hyphasis and Ganges; their country Alexander never entered, their cities he never could have taken, for they come not out to the field to fight those who attack them, but they overthrow their enemies with tempests and thunderbolts, shot from their walls.”
This is a most striking illustration of the antiquity of Gunpowder, for if some such composition be not implied in the foregoing quotation, it must remain for ever perfectly unintelligible.
Saltpetre, which is the principal ingredient of Gunpowder, is found in its natural state in the East, and from this it seems highly probable they were acquainted with the composition of Gunpowder before the Europeans.
Powder at siege of Mecca, A. D. 690.
The Arabs are said to have employed Gunpowder at the siege of Mecca, A. D. 690.
Oldest book on gunpowder A. D. 900.
There is a manuscript book still extant, entitled Liber Ignium, written by Marcus Græcus, who lived about the end of the eighth century, and the composition there prescribed is 6lbs. saltpetre, 2lbs. charcoal, 1lb. sulphur, to be well powdered and mixed in a stone mortar.
Work on gunpowder in Escurial Collection A. D. 1249.