High Middle Ages · East Asia · Technology
1044
Wujing Zongyao describes gunpowder
1044
The Song military encyclopedia Wujing Zongyao, compiled for the imperial court, included three formulas for gunpowder used in incendiaries and smoke bombs. It is the earliest dated written account of the recipe anywhere in the world. Within a century Chinese soldiers would be lobbing bamboo tube flamethrowers in battle, and the technology would begin its slow westward journey along the Silk Road toward Europe.
In context
Also in 1044 (3 other events on record)
- Wujing Zongyao military encyclopedia completed · East Asia · Technology
- Anawrahta founds the Pagan Empire · Southeast Asia · Politics
- Song-Xia peace treaty signed · East Asia · Politics
Before and after in East Asia
Before and after in Technology
Era
High Middle Ages (1000–1300), one of 1,306 events from that era on Saeculum.
Sources