• Gun-powder consists of saltpetre, sulphur and charcoal.

• It was first invented in China. Later, it spread to the Islamic society. The immigrant Turks brought gun-powder to India, perhaps in late 13th or early 14th century. But, it must be pointed out that even by the reign of Sultan Feroz Shah Tughluq; its only use was for pyrotechny or fireworks (atashbazi), not for fire-arms or for propelling cannon-balls.

• Fire-arms were used, for the first time, during the second half of the 15th century in some regions of India, like Gujarat, Malwa and the Deccan.

• The use of fire-arms, on a regular basis, was introduced by the Portuguese, when they came to Calicut in A.D. 1498 and by Babur in North India in the early 16th century.