Muskets(1)

Jackson D.

Gunpowder

A Brief History of the Musket

Gunpowder was fist discovered in the 1st Century CE in Eastern China. It was used for mining. Over the years, it was used more and more for many different things. The first recorded use of it in war was in the 900s CE. Gunpowder eventually spread to Europe through trade, and developed into the first cannons and guns in the 1300s. The first major use of these weapons was during the Siege of Constantinople in 1382. Then, in 1520, the first rifles appeared. These were the first true muskets.

The Impact of Muskets

Muskets had many notable impacts on the world. They helped Europe conquer the world, and were a major contributor to the population boom of the 18th Century.

The Globe

The Spanish fighting the Incan Empire

European Dominance

Muskets were one of the main reasons that Europe was able to conquer the world. Native empires like the Incas and the Aztecs didn't stand a chance against the power of the musket, allowing Europe to conquer entire continents in just a few months.

Population Increase

In the 15th and 16th Centuries, hunting was dangerous, and you could get injured in many ways. With the musket, an animal could be taken out from over 200 feet away. This made it much easier to get food, and resulted in a food surplus, which is very important for population growth. As a result, the European population went up by over 80% in under 100 years.

World Population Projection, 1700-2100

Different Muskets used during the Civil War

Rifled or Smoothbore?

There were 2 different types of muskets. Ones with rifled barrels, and ones with smoothbore barrels. A smoothbore barrel was completely smooth on the inside. Thus the bullet didn't spin, making it fly erratically and shortening the range. To rifle the barrel, weapon-smiths would put grooves on the inside of the barrel, this would spin the bullet and drastically improve accuracy and range.

How Muskets Work

Muskets work by pouring gunpowder into the flash pan: a small pan near the trigger. Then, the person would use the ramrod, which is a long stick, to insert the musket ball down the barrel. When the trigger was pulled, a piece of flint called the frizzen would strike the flashpan and make a spark, igniting the gunpowder and firing the musket ball.

3 Musket Balls

Jackson D

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