They were likely hand-made and resembled a hand-held mortar. These cannons were designed to fire high-speed balls from long distances using their low calibres and broad bores. Their powder chamber was built into the gun's barrel. The gun was then cast with trunnions in the barrel and wedges under its muzzle.
Artillery was used in siege warfare
Before cannons were invented artillery was used extensively in siege warfare. French besiegers used trebuchets in France to pound Rennes' walls as early as 13th century. Later, the Byzantines used it to besiege Constantinople. In 1480, the Ottomans still used slings in their siege of Rhodes.
Cannons were used to incendiary purposes
Cannons were used in the Civil War as a deadly weapon. Their ramming sound was widely used to calculate their velocity. But they had also to account the various conditions that could occur during firing. The most common type of cannon during the Civil War was the muzzle-loader, or rammer-loaded cannon. The internal diameter of a cannon VENT must be small enough to allow the powder charge to ignite. Without this, the cannon might misfire and fire with a lower velocity.
They were used for defense of fortifications
Revolutionary changes in fortifications were possible due to the advent of gunpowder. The star fort appeared in the mid-15th century in Italy, where it replaced the traditional passive ring-shaped fortresses. This fortress design made it susceptible to cannon fire that could be directed at the perpendicular wall of the fortress. This allowed attackers to carry out undermining activities without risking the lives of their fellow soldiers.
They were then converted into field carriages
Many units used Mountain Howitzers in 1870s when there were not enough artillerymen on the west coast of the U.S. These were self-propelled guns, mounted on a tank chassis. Problem with mounting these guns on tanks was their weight. To solve this problem, the Cavalry and Infantry had to be cross-trained to operate them. The result was the "instant gun artillery."
They were made of bamboo
Bamboo cannons are the earliest known artillery pieces. They were originally hollow bamboo shoots, but over time they evolved into more powerful, cast-metal devices. Professor Robin Yates from McGill University claims that the world's oldest illustration of a cannon was created in 1127 A.D. This painting shows a cannon being fired, and it was created more than a century before Europeans began to manufacture artillery pieces.
They were made from gunpowder
Gunpowder was used to make cannons when they were invented. However, it is unclear when and where the gunpowder was used. Although some historians believe that the gunpowder was first developed in China there is much debate about how gunpowder was distributed throughout Eurasia. Whatever the reason, gunpowder and technology were quickly spread along the Silk Road.