forums.rs

Forums

Story and Roleplay Chat Thread Thread is sticky

Quick find code: 49-50-864-65646316

of 3517
Azi Demonica

Azi Demonica

Posts: 5,600 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
I don't think guns appeared that early. Black powder was known by Europeans and the Chinese since the 1200s, probably brought from China to Europe via the Mongol Invasions. I am not aware of guns appearing any earlier than the 13th century. Also, in Europe, archers, crossbowmen and gunners were not frequently executed; in Europe, it was against the code to kill prisoners of war, regardless of their class or status. The English had quite the reputation of killing POWs though after Agincourt, but even so, such slaughters of POWs were rare. For example, killing POWs was punishable by confiscation of horse and armour, and in the Ottoman Empire, people who abused POWs were loaded into a canon and fired out of it!

However, the earliest possible gun may have bee bamboo chutes used as one-shot firearms, though these do not appear until the Middle Ages. The Greek fire-thrower appears in the Dark Ages and may be considered a firearm but it was not a gun.

Anyways Wasted, if you have any leads on such early firearms, I'd love to hear it, see what I can learn.

27-May-2016 05:05:42

Pink 4 Twink
Aug Member 2023

Pink 4 Twink

Posts: 4,152 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
I'm likely wrong, It has been years since I saw that history channel special. However, I do know that during the 12th century, the code of Chivalry was still very much in effect, and that swords and axes was still preferred over that of a gun by most people. Those people that uses these handcannons, guns, whatever you'd like to call them were treated differently than those who used swords by soldiers of enemy nations, and that these people were never shown mercy when captured.. or so that special claimed. Just your friendly neighborhood gay boy! =)

27-May-2016 16:51:08

Azi Demonica

Azi Demonica

Posts: 5,600 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
Remember: history does not come from television shows, nor does it come from history books, nor does it come from history professors; history comes from first-hand accounts, eyewitness sources, writings, manuscripts, evidence, and archeological finds. Professors, books and TV specials tend to only give you their interpretation of history. Crossbows, war bows and javelins continued to be used throughout the earlier Middle Ages; chivalry was, historically, referring to horsemanship and mounted soldiery. It evolved into honorable action in relation to genteel birth later on.

Gunpowder-based weapons appear in the 13th century, but early firearms were inaccurate and unreliable. It was not until the arrival of the musket in the 16th century that warfare underwent a significant change in Europe. Use of muskets spread throughout most of the world in the 17th century. However, taking into account the Winged Hussars, samurai, and mail-clad warriors of India, armour continued to be used. I've even read accounts of mail armour worn in India as late as the 19th century.

27-May-2016 18:31:49

Azi Demonica

Azi Demonica

Posts: 5,600 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
It's common knowledge that gunpowder-based cannons appear in the 13th century and no earlier, but it is possible that hand-held cannons also appeared in this century though there is no evidence I am aware of. There are artistic representations that show cannons in the 13th century and no earlier. There do not seem to be gunpowder-based firearms that could appear any earlier than the 13th century that I am aware; if there is, I would like to see it for study. Explosive bombs do appear, one way or another though, though these early grenades were incendiary or appear to be so. It is easy to find the evidence online, it doesn't matter that I don't have the actual manuscripts in my possession, what matters is that the evidence can be seen digitally, in books, or articles, or if you have the time, you can travel to the various cathedrals and see the effigies of knights or archeological finds in museums for physical evidence. It is easy to find digitized pictures of these things online, they're all there.

The great helm, kettle hat, mail mittens, cuir bouilli, coat-of-plates, whalebone and iron gauntlets, espaulders, schy*balds, mail trappers for horses, two-handed maces, longbows, and the Mongol Invasions of Europe are some more things that appear in the 13th century.

28-May-2016 01:53:37

Pink 4 Twink
Aug Member 2023

Pink 4 Twink

Posts: 4,152 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
Generally, Azi, you can trust the History Channel. They generally represent history very well. However, the History Channel is also very into conspiracy theories and apocalyptic nonsense, and (sadly) reality TV nowadays. So yes, you are right, I shouldn't base my knowledge of medieval Europe on a TV. That said, you should not completely reject anything based on it's "inability to tell the truth" The History channel can genuinely be relied on about 85% of the time. However, when you see the apocalyptic nonsense about Nostradomus( I hope I spelled his name right) or Ancient Aliens, ( Which I do like, because it forces one to look at history and modern phenomina from a different angle) you should be skeptical. Just your friendly neighborhood gay boy! =)

28-May-2016 02:03:36 - Last edited on 28-May-2016 02:06:45 by Pink 4 Twink

Quick find code: 49-50-864-65646316 Back to Top