The Hand Cannon: A Leap Forward in Warfare

Some of the earliest hand cannons were made during the Yuan dynasty.  It had a metal barrel attached to a wooden stock.  There were two ways of firing.  One person could hold the cannon in two hands while another person ignited it.  You could also place it on a rest, allowing you to hold the cannon in one hand and ignite it with the other.  You could ignite the cannons with wood, coal, or slow-burning matches.  Some of the ammunition used included pebbles, iron balls, and arrows.
The Hand cannon was invented in China in the twelfth or thirteenth century.  Europeans and Arabs began to use hand cannons by the fourteenth century.  The Koreans had also gained knowledge of the hand cannon at the same time.
Hand cannons were very popular in Europe.  They could pierce heavy armor and were cheep to make.  They also acted as terror weapons.  The loud boom could startle troops and horses.  You needed little practice to use one too.  While the hand cannon is not in use today, many of its descendants are in use today.  All the guns used in wars, police forces, and in civilian protection are all descendants of the hand cannon.