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When it comes to world-changing technologies, gunpowder may not immediately come to mind like modern technologies like the Internet or electricity. But the significance of gunpowder in human history was so great and powerful that it changed the course of war, politics, and human civilization forever. Therefore, the discovery of gunpowder was not just about finding a chemical that could cause an explosion. It was the spark of a revolution that pushed humans to devise ways to harness the energy hidden in nature for use in everything from celebrations to the most destructive acts in history. And the spread of gunpowder was not only a major factor in the rapid expansion of European empires and their influence, but was also the most important variable that completely changed the way they fought and their military strategies. Castles and walls that were once the foundations of empires were easily destroyed by cannons, and long-range combat with flamethrowers became the key to victory on the battlefield. #history #gunpowder