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FIREWORKS
(Pyrotechnics)
Ancient China
(Sung dynasty
960-1279 ) is thought to be the birthplace of fireworks. One version of how the first explosive mixture (black powder/gunpowder) was found is that a cook in ancient china found that a mixture of sulfur, saltpeter, and charcoal was very flammable and would explode if enclosed in a small space. Others say that gunpowder was discovered accidentally by a Chinese alchemist who was mixing sulfur and saltpeter over a fire. The mixture dried into a black powder, and it burned with a huge puff of flame when ignited.
After they perfected black powder, the Chinese realized that it could be used as rocket fuel, and during the sixth century they made hand carved wooden rockets in the shape of dragons. The same principle that was used back then for making rocket powered fireworks is used today.
Europe surpassed China in pyrotechnic development, skilled tradesmen called firemakers made fireworks for peace and victory celebrations as well as for military use. During the
Renaissance
the Italians perfected elaborate fireworks while the Germans perfected pyrotechnics for scientific purposes. Both the Italians and the Germans contributed much to the advancement of the pyrotechnics we have now. The settlers brought fireworks with them to the new world in the 1600's and they became very popular here too.
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