alternatehistory.com

Here are a few facts:

  • Islam had made significant progress in China by time of the Song Dynasty (which began in 960)
  • Gunpowder was first developed by the Chinese in the 9th Century
  • Gunpowder was first developed by Muslims in the 13th century
So what if (for example) a Chinese alchemist who understands how to create gunpowder converted to Islam and made his Hajj to Mecca, but for some reason never returned home, eventually sharing gunpowder with the locals? How much could the Islamic world push this advantage in military technology? Is there something that would prevent knowledge of gunpowder from spreading to the middle east prematurely?
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