In "Letters to Lily", Alan Macfarlane says that although gunpowder was invented in China, it was banned in most of Asia until the 18th century, and that the continued use and development in Europe eventually led to a military advantage and colonisation. Is this true?

by p6hjakonn

"Letters to Lily" is definitely a simplified book, but Macfarlane doesn't provide any sources or context. To what extent is this accurate? How did the ban on firearms work out in the Islamic states, China and Japan? How was it enforced? Thanks!

Flocculencio

It most certainly wasn't banned across most of Asia. The Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal empires are collectively referred to as the gunpowder empires due to their effective use of gunpowder weapons.