Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

---

What if gun powder had been invented earlier? Would for example the ancient Greeks have been able to discover the right mixture of sulfur, saltpeter, and charcoal? Would they have been able to make bronze cannons centuries before the Chinese developed them?

People often ask why humans didn't come up with xyz earlier in history, when it seems so obvious in hindsight. Here is my take on that.


*** Sources / Credits ***

greatmingmilitary.blogspot.com/2016/01/huo-qiang.html
chemistryislife.com/the-chemistry-of-greek-fire
freepyroinfo.com/Pyrotechnic/Black_Powder/Section_10.pdf
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%E9%BB%91%E9%BE%8D%E6%B1%9F%E7%81%AB%E9%8A%83.jpg
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Yuan_chinese_gun.jpg
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Yuan_Bronze_Cannon.jpg
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vietnamese_wooden_cannon_captured_at_the_Vinh_Long_citadel_by_the_French_on_23_March_1862.jpg
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_nitrate
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:NHM_-_Homo_sapiens_Modell_1.jpg
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Archaic_period.jpg
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ancient_Greece_Bronze_Hoplite_Warrior_Statue_(28660212241).jpg
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Karaman_Museum_2072.jpg
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Yuan_chinese_gun.jpg
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bronze_cannon_of_1332.jpg
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Turkish_Bronze_Cannon_at_the_Tower_of_London_(02).jpg
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gastraphetes_-_Biton%27s_catapult_-_catapulta_di_Bitone.jpg
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gastraphetes_-_catapult_ancestor_-_antica_catapulta.jpg
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_reconstruction_of_Archimedes%27_steam_cannon,_in_Kotsanas_Museum_of_Ancient_Greek_Archaeology.jpg
Wallace Collection Online - The Collection | Result
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:020220210_121957_swords_from_Prussia,_10th_-_11th_century,_Yatvingia.jpg
manuscriptminiatures.com
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Palaeolithic_Hunting_Scene_in_the_Lotte_World_Folk_Museum.jpg
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_larged_D-shaped_backed_blade_(FindID_852405).jpg
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/46/Palaeolithic_tool_%28FindID_99251%29.jpg
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Blade_point_projectile_of_Early_Upper_Palaeolithic_date_(FindID_733473).jpg
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Palaeolithic_to_Mesolithic_Lithic_Implement_Blade_(FindID_161708).jpg


*** Support the channel ***

Help fund future videos, get bonus content and access to an exclusive Discord server:
patreon.com/skallagrim
youtube.com/channel/UC3WIohkLkH4GFoMrrWVZZFA/join

Merch:

bonfire.com/store/skallswag
If you want to join Bonfire to start selling your own merch: bonfire.com/welcome/07bb14169c804

Other ways to support the channel by shopping through affiliate links:

Kult of Athena, my favorite online store for reproductions of historical arms and armor, fantasy swords, etc:
kultofathena.com/?koa=259

Where to get HEMA gear and practice swords:
woodenswords.com/?Click=1799

GamerSupps powdered energy drinks and other stuff (I particularly like the SUS snack bars):
gamersupps.gg/Skall

I highly recommend the balms and oils from Beard Sorcery:
beardsorcery.com/?ref=0UEFtHWvZEmtD


*** Other social media ***

https://bsky.app/profile/skallagrim.bsky.social
facebook.com/SkallagrimYT
instagram.com/skallagrim_yt

#skallagrim #history #alternatehistory #timeline #historicalweapons #historicalguns