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Gunpowder was the first physical explosive and propellant. Prior to its invention, many incendiary and burning devices had been used, including Greek fire. The invention of gunpowder is usually attributed to Chinese alchemy, and is popularly listed as one of the "Four Great Inventions" of China. It was invented during the Tang Dynasty (9th century), and the earliest record of a written formula appeared in the Song Dynasty (11th century). Knowledge of gunpowder spread throughout the Old World as a result of the Mongol conquests of the 13th century. It was employed in warfare to some effect from at least the 14th century, although the development of effective artillery took place during the 15th century, and firearms came to dominate early modern warfare in Europe by the 17th century. ==Original development== The prevailing academic consensus is that gunpowder was formulated in the 9th century by Chinese alchemists searching for an elixir of immortality.〔Buchanan (2006), p. 42.〕〔http://chemistry.about.com/od/historyofchemistry/a/gunpowder.htm〕 By the time the Song Dynasty treatise, ''Wujing Zongyao'' (武经总要), was written by Zeng Gongliang, Ding Du, and Yang Weide in 1044 AD, the various Chinese formulas for gunpowder held levels of nitrate in the range of 27% to 50%.〔Needham, V 7〕 File:武经总要全前集卷十二 火药制法.jpg|Formula for gunpowder in 1044 ''Wujing zongyao'' part I vol 12 File:武经总要前集卷十二 霹雳火球制法.jpg|Instruction for fire bomb in ''Wujing zongyao'' File:武经总要全前集卷十二 霹雳火球图.jpg|Fire grenade File:武经总要 竹火鷂 鐵嘴火鷂.jpg|Fire birds 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「History of gunpowder」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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