Science has been intertwined with armed conflict for centuries. The Greek despot Dionysius the Elder of Syracuse is thought to have invented the catapult around 400 B.C., a technology upgrade that changed the course of battle through medieval times. Alchemists in China invented gunpowder around A.D. 850; initially used in fireworks, its use in cannons and handheld firearms followed. European forces enlisted hot air balloons for attacks and reconnaissance not long after they were invented in the 18th century.
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