Black powder, sometimes referred to as gunpowder, was created in ancient China by alchemists who were looking for a way to live forever. One of the events that changed combat and technology the most throughout history is frequently cited as the advent of gunpowder.
Although the exact origins of gunpowder are not well known and historical records can be a little hazy, it is generally accepted that the material was first discovered in China in the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD) around the ninth century, if not before.