Cannons in History

Prior to the 1800, cannons played a major role in the history of warfare. Many of the cannons prior to the 1800s were on pirates ships and they played a big role in the naval attacks in that time period.

Cannon Designs

• First naval cannons were breech-loaded and made of wrought iron.
• The guns were tied to their carriages with rope and the rope limited range and performance.
• Round stones were first used as cannon balls, but in the 16th century, iron cannon balls were used.
• In the 16^th century, cast bronze guns became common. 
• First they were breech-loaded then they became muzzle-loaded. 
• Bronze cannons were expensive that they were the first objects to be taken from sunken ships.
• In the 18^th century, cannons began to be made from iron.
• Also in the 18^th century, rifled barrels were introduced, improving range and precision.
• In the mid-19^th century, rifled breach-loaded cannons were being produced
• Example was HMS Warrior (1860), carrying ten 110 pound cannons. Cannon balls started being replaced with "modern-looking" projectiles.
• Cannon in the 20th and 21st centuries are usually divided into sub-categories, and given separate names. Some  are howitzers, mortars, and autocannon.
• Super guns, large barrel cannons, have also been made. 
• Cannons use to be filled with random objects such as forks and knives but soon the were filled with heavy balls. Today they are filled with large caliber rounds shaped like bullets.
   

Economic Impact and Social Impacts

• 
  Traditional English weapon was the longbow and handguns.
  The longbow couldn't reach enemies who were at a certain rage so they out of use during the 16th century.
  Muskets also help soldiers but they took too long to reload.
  Cannons caused castles and forts to be re-designed.
  Walls were made to slope outwards to deflect cannon balls.
  Instead of towers forts, towns now had bastions (triangular sections of wall that stuck out from the rest of the wall).Bastion could fire at approaching soldiers from the sides.
  Solid cannonballs were used to fire at walls and at enemy ships.
  By the late 16th century, England used royal or double cannons, which fired shot of 60-70 pounds.

n.p.  H.M.S. VICTORY'S 32-POUNDER CANNON. 2005. Trafalgar ships compared.
n.p. Cannon. Wilipedia, 18 January, 2011. Web. 20 Jan. 2011.
n.p. Naval Cannon Types. Nov. 1999. Web. 20 Jan. 2011.