28 Responses to The Real Origin of Viking Raids. 1  Well done! 2  Thank you for this article. 3  The shutting of the ancient trade routes to Rome and the East by the Holy Roman Empire was the principle reason that the Rus trade routes down the Volga were established. 4  Pingback: Daily Stuff 5-20-13 MjÃ¶lnir | Ancient Light's Daily Stuff.
Gunpowder was the first physical explosive and propellant. Prior to its invention, many incendiary and burning devices had been used, including Greek fire. The invention of gunpowder is usually attributed to Chinese alchemy, and is popularly listed as one of the .Four Great Inventions  of China.It was invented during the Tang Dynasty (9th century), and the earliest record of a written formula appeared in the Song Dynasty (11th century).Knowledge of gunpowder spread throughout the Old World as a result of the Mongol conquests of the 13th century.t was invented during the Tang Dynasty (9th century), and the earliest record of a written formula appeared in the Song Dynasty (11th century). Knowledge of gunpowder spread throughout the Old World as a result of the Mongol conquests of the 13th century.
Covered in multimedia lecture #1660. No invention of the 1800's played a more vital role in the Industrial Revolution than the steam locomotive and railroad, triggering the biggest leap in transportation technology in history.The technology central to railroads, the steam engine, needed two major improvements.nother catalyst for the invention of the locomotive was the loss of so many horses during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars. This, along with the rolling and puddling method and Watt's Sun and Planet gear, sparked experiments leading to the first steam locomotive in 1804.