Gunpowder: Alchemy, Bombards, and Pyrotechnics: The History of the Explosive that Changed the World

by Jack Kelly

When Chinese alchemists fashioned the first manmade explosion sometime during the tenth century, no one could have foreseen its full revolutionary potential. Invented to frighten evil spirits rather than fuel guns or bombs—neither of which had been thought of yet—their simple mixture of saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal went on to make the modern world possible. As word of its explosive properties spread from Asia to Europe, from pyrotechnics to battleships, it paved the way for Western exploration, hastened the end of feudalism and the rise of the nation state, and greased the wheels of the Industrial Revolution. With dramatic immediacy, novelist and journalist Jack Kelly conveys both the distant time in which the devil’s distillate” rose to conquer the world, and brings to rousing life the eclectic cast of characters who played a role in its epic story, including Michelangelo, Edward III, Vasco da Gama, Cortés, Guy Fawkes, Alfred Nobel, and E. I. DuPont. A must-read for history fans and military buffs alike, Gunpowder brings together a rich terrain of cultures and technological innovations with authoritative research and swashbuckling style.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Science, Chemistry, Microhistory, Technology, Military History

273 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 13, 2004

About the author

Jack Kelly is an award-winning author and historian. He has published works of narrative nonfiction focusing on the Revolutionary War and early America.

Jack lives with the acclaimed artist Joy Taylor and a lovely, nondescript cat named Allis Chalmers, in New York's Hudson Valley. He writes mainly about the American Revolution and the early history of the nation. He’s always happy to hear from readers via his website JackKellyBooks.com.

Perhaps because of a background as the author of five crime novels, Jack writes nonfiction with the compulsive energy of thrillers. He has covered a range of fascinating historical personalities in his books GOD SAVE BENEDICT ARNOLD, VALCOUR, and BAND OF GIANTS. In honor of the 2025 bicentennial of the Erie Canal, his history HEAVEN’S DITCH gives an intriguing look at the excitement surrounding that major achievement.

In January 2026, Jack will publish TOM PAINE’S WAR. The book offers a compelling portrait of the man who was the voice of the American Revolution and who remains our most relevant founder. Paine’s Common Sense convinced Americans to declare independence. He went on to march with Washington’s army during the desperate struggle of 1776.

Jack has received the DAR History Medal and is a New York Foundation for the Arts fellow in Nonfiction Literature.

Reviews

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Where to start with this book? Honestly, I love chemistry, pop sci, AND history. I love a well written story, took. You'd think I'd have loved this book... but I just couldn't. Not because it wasn't any of these things, but because of the lack of citations. It really got on my nerves when I wanted to learn more... but couldn't even follow the rabbit hole.

As a history of chemistry, history of one of the world's most prominent tool in war, this was a fabulous book. Read it with a light heart, open mind, and curiosity towards the past. It's a great pop sci book that makes the entirety of the history of gunpowder from it's meek beginnings as a tainted soil to a powerful weapon enjoyable to read. It's laced with important figures, interesting small characters that you rarely see in even a grad-level class, and a whole new dimension to our shared past related to the greed for this powdered gold. He doesn't just focus on China nor the west, but also spends a deal of time discussing the desires of African tribes, the ways the Native American's used them, and how the little guys used gunpowder for revolution fuel.

As a research book... it leaves a lot to be desired. Despite talking about many aspects of the world of gunpowder, Kelly failed to cite thoroughly. There were, on average 3.5 sources per chapter given in the back of the book as an annotated resource. However, in the chapter, there were quotes -- in actual quotation marks -- what were not cited at all. That is the part that vexed me, and also brought down the quality of the book from a 4.5 star to a 3 star.

[Hesham Sheir · Rating 5 out of 5]

كتاب هام جداً يستعرض تاريخ البارود من استخدامه في الألعاب النارية في الصين القديمة وما مر به من تطورات هائلة أحدثت تغيرات عظيمة سياسية وعسكرية واقتصادية وأخلاقية في مسار التاريخ البشري. الكتاب خليط عجيب من الكيمياء والتاريخ والعلوم العسكرية وتقنيات صناعة الأسلحة مع قليل من اللمحات الفلسفية والأخلاقية. ورغم ثقل وجفاف بعض التفاصيل الكيميائية والتقنية إلا أن الكتاب شيق وزاخر بالقصص والمعلومات الهامة.

والكتاب من خلال استعراضه لتاريخ البارود يبحث قضايا متنوعة ويثير أفكارا لامعة ويقدم لمحات علمية وتاريخية وفلسفية وأخلاقية. وأحب أن أشير إلى بعض تلك القضايا والأفكار واللمحات في النقاط التالية:
١- نشأة البارود القديمة وتطوره التدريجي يعكس مسار التطور التقني والعلمي، وطريقة تطور الفكر البشري، وكيف أسهمت الأفكار البدائية في تطوير العلم الحديث، وكيف كانت بعض النظريات القديمة قريبة جداً من تحقيق قفزات كانت ستدفع العلم مئات الأعوام للأمام.

٢- اختلاف تعامل العقلية الأوروبية مع تطوير البارود عن العقلية الشرقية في الصين واليابان وما يترتب على ذلك من مغزى حضاري وأخلاقي.

٣- الدور الخطير الذي لعبه البارود في تحريك أحداث التاريخ، وفهم هذا الدور يساعد على تفسير العديد من الأحداث التاريخية تفسيرا منطقياً؛ مثل عبقرية جان دارك العسكرية، وسر تفوق الأسطول الانجليزي على أسطول الأرمادا الأسباني، وكيف نجحت الدول الاستعمارية في السيطرة على شعوب تفوقها عدداً بكثير.

٤- الآثار السياسية الخطيرة لتطور البارود مثل قيام الحكومات المركزية، وغلبة العنف المبالغ فيه على الصراعات الدينية والطائفية، وطريقة تعامل الأوروبيين مع الشعوب البدائية في آسيا وأفريقيا وأمريكا، وتطور خطط الإرهاب والاغتيالات السياسية.

٥- أثر البارود في تغيير المفاهيم القديمة حول النار وتركيب العالم المادي وأثره في تطور علوم الكيمياء والميكانيكا وقوانين الحركة.

٦- تأخر استخدام البارود في المجالات السلمية لمئات الأعوام بعد استعماله في الحروب وما تسبب في ذلك من دواعي اقتصادية وما تخفيه تلك الحقيقة من مغزى أخلاقي.

[Paul A · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the author’s blend of pop history and chemistry! Given my own background, it was interesting to see how these reactions drove so much progress both on and off the battlefield. Kelly’s writing style is immensely readable and easy to digest, given the subject matter.

I’d be interested in reading through more of what’s listed in his bibliography and I’d certainly be interested in reading more of his work moving forward!

[Ellieboi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting and thoughtful. When I started this book I was enamored by explosives and its history. Later I have realized how horrible it can be. This was absolutely interesting read, Kelly is a goos story teller and he does not shy away from the terrible destruction and technological leaps gunpowder brought.

[Fred Grogan · Rating 4 out of 5]

How gun powder truly came to be. Explores the earliest possible instances of the discovery and use. Chinese use, early European use as magic by way of demonstration of power, and finally refinement and use as a military tool.
Almost alchemic in origin, the formula of the three main ingredients did not become clear until the verge of modern times. A great history of how that affected, perhaps caused, the rise of nation states going forward.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

To me this is a five-star book. All about one of the most important inventions of all time, and proves beyond doubt the importance of chemistry. The major (75%) ingredient is potassium nitrate, which was often difficult and expensive to obtain. Its unique property was to give off oxygen when heated, a property I have personally demonstrated in a chemistry lab.

Also includes a significant amount of information on gun development from the earliest hand cannon to post-civil war, and the effects on war, commerce,empires, and mining. Includes the story of Alfred Nobel and dynamite, an early but still-used high explosive, much more powerful than gunpowder or its sodium nitrate cousin, blasting powder. Also includes the story of the DuPonts, who immigrated from France and built a monopoly on gunpowder and later smokeless powder manufacturing in America.

Stories of several major accidental explosions with significant loss of life are also included. This book was a very well-chosen birthday gift from Brenda and Kevin this year.

[Abram · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved this book and only gave it 3 stars because I dont think its a great book for everyone.
The book gives a detailed history of the invention and progress of gunpowder manufacturing. It is a very easy read with some terminology and jargon that you may have to look up, but overall I believe it to be very approachable for the everyday reader. Kelly does a good job of pointing out how the use of gunpowder affected history and for me brought to light how important a few inventors and chemists were to the formation of the weaponry of the world which in turn shaped world as we know it today. Without the discovery of GP many of the wars that have been fought may have had differing results, super powers may not have evolved and much of the conquest of native cultures would not have happened. There is no question of the accelerating effect it had on the conquest for power and the ability for nations to do so.

[A.Samir · Rating 4 out of 5]

ممتع جدا بالنسبة لي..
بيشرح "كيف بدأ كل ذلك" :D

بيبدأ مع اختراع الصينيين للبارود واستخداماته الأولى في الألعاب النارية وعروض الحواة، وبعدها بداية التفكير في استخدامه كسلاح، والعقبات التي واجهت إنتاج نترات البوتاسيوم (المكون الرئيسي للبارود) بكميات كبيرة. ثم انتقاله لأوروبا والتطورات التي أدخلت على المدافع والأشكال الأولى للبنادق.

وحرفة المدفعي وصناع البارود، واستخدام المدافع في حروب محمد الفاتح، وبعدين في الحروب بين الممالك الأوروبية.
والنظرة الأولى للبارود على إنه عمل جبان مقابل قيم الفروسية والشجاعة واٌلإقدام التي تعتمد على القوة الجسدية والالتحام عن قرب. ثم تغيير شكل الحرب البحرية بدخول المدافع للسفن.
ويشرح الكتاب من أين جاء تعبير loose cannon

ثم ينتقل إلى استخدام البارود في حرب المستعمرات الأمريكية مع البريطانيين، ثم إلى الحرب الأهلية الأمريكية.
ثم أفول عهد البارود بعد اختراع ألفريد نوبل للنيتروجليسرين والديناميت

لمن قرأ الكتاب، شاهد: https://youtu.be/2vqgKrJUA3w

[Mike Parkes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Much like gunpowder requires the proper mix of saltpeter, sulfur and charcoal, this book mixes chemistry, technology, and history in just the right proportions to create a near-perfect microhistory. Enough detail to help you understand the technological improvements in the powder and the guns over the centuries and the impact of these changes, without either getting bogged down in the weeds or over-simplifying. Covers up to the introduction of the high explosives that replaced gunpowder in both military and civilian uses. I am not much into war or weapons (came to this title via a recent read on artificial nitrate as fertilizer) but couldn’t put this down.

[Mike Braun · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit strange, but very exciting book. The history of gunpowder from its introduction in China to its replacement with more terrible means of murder. Everything is written in a very lively figurative language.
Most of the historical plots are taken from the history of Western Europe and North America. Curious moments, how dependence on gunpowder influenced the economies of states and the history of peoples, the methods of war and the development of related sciences. For example, I was always interested in why the French Revolution began with the capture of the Bastille - there were few other objects, perhaps, if the weapon was on hand? It turns out that there was a weapon, but there was no gunpowder for it. The day before, they managed to take them out of the Arsenal - to the Bastille, so after the plundering of a few empty arsenals and the city hall, the fortress-prison became the number one target, and certainly not because of its prisoners ...

[Cade · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an very interesting and readable book. The author covers the entire history of gunpowder. While much of the content is naturally taken up by the interplay of the development of gunpowder and artillery/firearms, he also touches on civilian uses. I like that he clearly explains the incremental enhancements in formulation and manufacture over time with clear exposition of the value to end use applications at each stage. After this one, I will definitely look for more books by Jack Kelly.

[Timofey Peters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Послушал аудиокнигу и получил удовольствие, отлично, просто отлично! Классно озвученная познавательная книга о веществе, изменявшем ход истории вплоть до изобретения атомной бомбы. Ах, как некоторые изобретатели пороха переживали, что их изобретение делает войну поистине ужасной и бесчеловечной. Думали, что люди ужаснутся от последствий применения пороха и перестанут истреблять сами себя. Ага, щаз, сказали изобретатели атомной бомбы, химического и биологического оружия.

[Matthew Gates · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a accessible history booking looking into the history of gunpowder. It touches on chemistry in a few places near the beginning and end. Gunpowder is used to look at important historical events such as Portugals going to Asia with cannons for the first time and gives these events context to really appreciate why they happened. It's a good read.

[Zack Fritz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nicely done overview of the history of gunpowder. If that seems interesting to you, you'll probably like this book.

I really liked the first half, which discussed the discovery of gunpowder from about the third to eighteenth century. I lost steam once it got to the 1800s, but this book is short enough that it was still an enjoyable read.

[Nathan Slegers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written material. The author balances historical facts with fascinating and thought provoking connections. This more than just a history of gunpowder. It helps explain the political landscapes across regions and gunpowder's role in shaping the world as we know it.

[Thuy Pham · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first favorite book of 2022! It’s a combination of many things I love: history, science, and superb writing style. From curiosity to experimentation to invention, the history of gunpowder embodies everything I love about the world of science. So lucky I got my paws on this book.

[Salamanderinspace · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice quick, light read. Combines the history with a sprinkling of physics and engineering. I was interested in an engineering / practical perspective and I feel like I got a good sense of how the sausage is made.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating recounting of the history of gunpowder, from ancient history through the nineteenth century, when it was supplanted by other explosives in gun cartridges and dynamite for mining. It is still used now for fireworks.

[Rosemary Pecoraro · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that takes you through history

This is a well written easy to read romp through the paths of history using gunpowder as it's agent. It shows the connections of historical events as it describes the continued discovery and improvements in the chemistry and use of gunpowder.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

started off slow and academic, but about half-way through became much more interesting and readable

[Rami Khrais · Rating 5 out of 5]

شيّق ولطيف

[Wayne Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting topic but the writing was too dry for me.

[Sergey Kryzhanovsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Всё в названии. Научно-популярная книга, написана так, как написаны хорошие западные нп-книги. Сухая история чего-нибудь подаётся в смеси интересных баек, случаев и хроник. Хорошо.

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written, popular history of the development of gunpowder with good details of China's discovery and use. In other words, not Euro-centric.

[Samuel Viana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Almost every thing you wanna now about the history of gunpowder comes in this book. The thing I missed the most was pictures depicting the inner workings of the weapons described.

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fascinating look into the history and popular culture surrounding gunpowder and firearms.

[James B. Friderici · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting book which had much information I did not know despite being a military history junkie. It is well worth reading.

[Karl · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting topic, but the writing was off the subject.

[Tres Herndon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently read a book about how the Mongols changed the world. The Mongols took the Chinese invention of gunpowder and used it during their conquests. But it was the Europeans that really took the ball and ran with it. Goes to show that it's not who invents something first, it's who maximizes its utility.

The book is very accessible, easy to read, but not simple and full of interesting detail. It's an ideal gateway book to inspire research into other areas.

It's fascinating that even today gunpowder isn't fully understood and that it took almost 1000 years for it to be supplanted by synthetic explosives like TNT. It's also fascinating that if you took a Chinese powder expert from 1267 and showed him a modern firecracker he'd understand it perfectly - apart from some details nothing has changed.

[Todd Stockslager · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun (really!) popular history of gunpowder, which started and ended its career as a propellant for fireworks, and in between fueled wars between men and nations, at land and sea.

One interesting point made by Kelly is that gunpowder was an early human technology that was developed and refined by practitioners, who had an imperfect understanding of how it worked, and not theoreticians, who often had NO understanding of how it worked. And in fact gunpowder as a technology was superseded before science fully caught up with it, so that it is still to some extent an unknown quantity.

I am reminded of Jimmy Buffett's line "A bombardier, a nighttime magician" in reference to a fireworks artisan setting of a sh