The invention of gunpowder by the Chinese had a significant impact in that it changed the ways wars were fought, and led to scientific and chemical advancement.

 In the 9th century, during the Tang dynasty, gunpowder was first invented. Gunpowder was invented by accident. Ancient Chinese alchemists were trying to find a way to live forever when they accidentally invented gunpowder mixing saltpeter, charcoal, and sulfur. 

Gunpowder affected wars significantly by changing the ways they were fought. The Song Dynasty used gunpowder for weapons like rocket arrows and early cannons for the Mungols. Before gunpowder, weapons were designed around the limits of their users’ muscular strength; after gunpowder, they were designed more in response to tactical demand. This period marked a turning point, as ancient Chinese gunpowder weapons had finally evolved from rudimentary firecrackers into strategic tools of war during this time. Chinese inventors had introduced weapons like the Thunderclap Bomb and Heaven-Shaking Cannon, they are all powerful devices capable of delivering high-impact explosions. 

Because of gunpowder that gave ancient china leverage. China won wars due to having gunpowder such as the war against the Mongols. With gunpowder ancient China became more advanced and had more leverage during war.