Why were guns not as popular as longbows and crossbows during the Middle Ages?

In Europe, military bows became obsolete around the 16th Century as firearms became more sophisticated. It should be noted that bows coexisted with guns in Asia for much longer than Europe. The longbow, amongst other bows, were clearly highly versatile and potent in battle but they soon became obsolete.

Where was gunpowder invented?

China
Black powder is thought to have originated in China, where it was being used in fireworks and signals by the 10th century.

Why did guns replace crossbows?

‘Muskets’ replace crossbows, not because they were better weapons, but because powder and lead balls could be mass produced. It was wayyyyyyy cheaper that way. You need some master craftmen to built crossbow projectiles, and lead balls could be produced in emergency if needed.

When were black powder weapons invented?

9th century
Black powder (or gun powder) was invented in China during the 9th century; these inventions were later transmitted to the Middle East and Europe. The direct ancestor of the firearm is the fire lance. The prototype of the fire lance was invented in China during the 10th century and is the predecessor of all firearms.

How far did medieval bows shoot?

A six-foot bow made of yew wood, the English longbow had a draw weight of between 80 and 150 pounds, an effective range of up to 350 yards. The heavy war arrows used were able to penetrate all but the very best steel plate armor of the medieval period.

What was the purpose of gunpowder in ancient China?

In ancient China, gunpowder and gunpowder-based weapons were invented and widely used by military forces to dispel invasion at the borders. The prevailing academic consensus is that gunpowder was discovered in the 9th century by Chinese alchemists searching for an elixir of immortality.

Are bows still used in the military?

No military units will use crossbows or hand drawn bows for anything other than fairly specific missions. It bears mention that there are units which will use these in ceremonial duties associated with that unit, but they do not use them as combat weapons.

Are bows loud?

While bows naturally produce some noise and vibration, they can become louder when they go out of tune. To make your bow quieter you should get it tuned. If still too loud you can use dampeners, heavier arrows, and more to further silence the bow.

When was the musket created?

A musket is a muzzle-loaded long gun that appeared as a smoothbore weapon in the early 16th century, at first as a heavier variant of the arquebus, capable of penetrating heavy armour.