Evolution of Weapons Essay

Submitted By DJKS69
Words: 945
Pages: 4

Weapon has largely impacted and influences our world through most of our life, but the most recent use of weapon closes to modern day. Comes from the Renaissance time period where they started to invent or improve muskets, bows and arrows, gunpowder, and body armor for protection. These weapons are still used to this day.
With minor alteration to improve them for easier and efficient usage. They were use for many purposes either to fight wars or protection from harm.

The weapon that started it all was the most simplest of them all but still complex.
This was the bow and arrow that was used about sixty four thousand years ago.
The Renaissance army used bows and arrows during war. The bows were constructed from a flexible and durable piece of wood. Then bent to make a C shape and tied together with an expandable piece of string, at each end to hold its shape. The arrows are made out of a hollow piece of wood with a metal tip. It was very effective during war a, man was capable of shooting about twelve arrows per minute. Compared to other weapons which were time consuming and would let the enemy advance closer. People in the modern world still use bows and arrows.
They are still constructed the same way with a C shape. However people of the modern world stopped using arrow for war, but hunting instated. Although the shape remained the same pulley systems were added to give more tension and power. Invention and use of gunpowder evolved from china but became famous in Europe in 1346. It was a big achievement as well as the start of firearms. The discovery of gunpowder happened by mistake. It was discovered when saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal were combined together that caused a chemical reaction. When they were combined together the mixture creates an explosion. Because of this discovery most of the knights were being replaced with foot soldiers that carried cannons. This was the start of a new and improved way men fought and were successful. Use of the powder first appeared in the battle of Crecy. These discoveries also lead to invention in weaponry. Gunpowder is still used in the modern world with minor changes on how it’s used. As the chemical composition remained the same. They are now placed in cartridges and safer to handle.
Compared to manually loading gun which if hit hard enough can cause the gun to go off in the loaders face, causing death or serious injuries.

The musket an accurate and lightweight firearm. Created to replace the less accurate and expensive Harquebus. It was invented in the sixteenth century. It was the first gun fired from the shoulder, though it could also be hooked on a support to lessen recoil. It is a smoothbore gun. It wasn't very accurate, but was good against Calvary and infantry, especially when used in large masses. The musket was loaded from the tip of the barrel where gunpowder was poured down. After that the powder charged was poured following a lead ball. Then the soldier would aim and fire and repeat the process. The modern day gun share many characteristics of musket like a long barrel which makes the gun more accurate. Guns are still used in wars as it is very effective in taking down its target. However the process of loading a gun is faster and safer, due to the fact that the gunpowder is being placed in cartridge. Then placed into a magazine which can hold a great amount of cartridge. This improvement