Quick history of Guns

They've existed for more than 1,000 years and have affected warfare — and society in general — in ways perhaps no other invention can match. We're talking about guns.

Once just the weapon of the world's military forces, guns are now considered a right of the average citizen by some people, especially in the United States, where it's written into the Constitution. So, when were guns invented?

It all started in China around 850 C.E., when Chinese alchemists accidentally created gunpowder while trying to develop a "fountain of youth" potion

The resulting black powder, called "huo yao," was a blend of charcoal, saltpeter and sulfur.

The then-reigning Song Dynasty was the first to have used gunpowder in warfare; they did so against the Mongols, whose constant invasions into the country plagued the Chinese throughout the period.