Gunpowder was invented in which region and became a dominant military technology by the 15th century?

Gunpowder was invented in which region and became a dominant military technology by the 15th century?

• A. Vikings
• B. Gunpowder
• C. Caravel
• D. Mariner's Astrolabe

Answer: (B)

This question tests recognizing which invention changed warfare by the 15th century. Gunpowder originated in China and, after spreading to the Middle East and Europe, powered cannons, artillery, and handheld firearms. These weapons transformed siege and naval combat, making fortifications and armored knights less dominant and enabling longer-range, more devastating firepower. Among the options, only gunpowder names the invention that caused this shift; the Vikings were from a pre-gunpowder era, a caravel is a type of ship, and a mariner’s astrolabe is a navigational tool. So gunpowder is the correct choice because it directly represents the invention that altered military technology and practice by that time.

This question tests recognizing which invention changed warfare by the 15th century. Gunpowder originated in China and, after spreading to the Middle East and Europe, powered cannons, artillery, and handheld firearms. These weapons transformed siege and naval combat, making fortifications and armored knights less dominant and enabling longer-range, more devastating firepower. Among the options, only gunpowder names the invention that caused this shift; the Vikings were from a pre-gunpowder era, a caravel is a type of ship, and a mariner’s astrolabe is a navigational tool. So gunpowder is the correct choice because it directly represents the invention that altered military technology and practice by that time.