Everything Everywhere Daily: “Cannons and Artillery”

Host: Gary Arndt
Date: September 29, 2025

Overview

In this episode, Gary Arndt presents a sweeping history of cannons and artillery, tracing their origins from ancient China’s early gunpowder experiments to today’s precision-guided munitions. The episode examines how technological advances have continuously reshaped military tactics, strategies, and even the design of fortifications. Gary frames artillery as a weapon that has not only persisted but also defined warfare across continents and centuries—a testament to human ingenuity in both destruction and defense.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Origins of Gunpowder and Early Artillery

• Gunpowder, one of China’s “four great inventions,” was known as early as the 2nd century, but artillery itself did not emerge until the 13th century.
• The first cannons were a Chinese innovation, but quickly spread via Muslim traders and the Mongols to the Middle East and Europe.
• Quote:

  “It was the discovery that a confined charge of gunpowder could throw a projectile further and harder than a siege engine such as a trebuchet that marked the real beginning of artillery.” (04:30)

2. Early European Cannons and Casting Techniques

• By the 14th century, cannons had appeared in Europe, although with serious limitations: unreliable barrels, inefficient loading, imprecise aiming.
• The Mons Meg (c. 1449) exemplifies early artillery: a six-ton cannon firing 330-pound stone balls, but slow and unwieldy.
• Advances in casting bronze and, later, iron enabled bigger, stronger, and more reliable cannons.
• Quote:

  “The critical early advancement was learning to cast cannons from bronze and later iron... This enabled the creation of much stronger and more reliable barrels that could withstand greater internal pressures.” (07:20)

3. Artillery’s Impact on Fortresses and Warfare

• Artillery led to the downfall of traditional, high-walled medieval fortresses.
• The 1453 Siege of Constantinople is highlighted:

  “Ottoman cannons, including the massive Basilica cannon, breached walls that had stood for over a thousand years.” (09:00)

• These cannons fired huge stone balls, but had impractical slow rates of fire—nonetheless, they changed history.

4. The Science and Mobility Revolution

• The 16th century: Mathematical analysis of ballistics begins (notably Niccolo Tartaglia) and standardization arises.
• Introduction of wheeled carriages and trunnions makes artillery more mobile and tactically flexible.
• Firing mechanisms evolved from unreliable matchlocks to improved flintlock-type systems.

5. Naval Artillery and Sea Battles

• Ships started mounting broadside batteries of iron guns. Sea battles shifted from boarding actions to cannon duels.
• Inaccuracy at Sea:

  “One thing that most people don’t realize about cannon battles at sea is that they were notoriously inaccurate... More often than not, they simply disabled a ship by striking the mast.” (13:00)

• Coastal fortresses were redesigned to withstand cannon fire, favoring earthen bastions.

6. Professionalization and Standardization in the 17th-18th Centuries

• Artillery transitions from ad hoc craft to professional service (notably under Gustavus Adolphus and Louis XIV's Gribeauval system).
• Standard calibers, interchangeable parts, and improved training made artillery more efficient and reliable.
• Enhanced boring techniques yielded smoother barrels, tighter-fitting projectiles, and greater accuracy.
• Quote:

  “Napoleon Bonaparte’s famous declaration that ‘God fights on the side with the best artillery’ reflected the profound impact of cannons on warfare.” (18:00)

7. Industrial Revolution and the Age of Modern Artillery

• Key Advances: Rifled barrels (improving accuracy and range), breech-loading mechanisms (faster, safer loading), and steel cannon construction.
• The Krupp steel cannons from Germany stand out for their range and precision.
• Artillery’s power and production ramped up dramatically during the American Civil War.

8. The Shift to Smokeless Powder

• In the 1880s, nitrocellulose-based smokeless powder replaced traditional gunpowder, greatly increasing range, velocity, and concealment.
• Game-changing Impact:

  “Smokeless powder also eliminated the massive clouds of white smoke that had previously revealed artillery positions immediately after firing.” (28:00)

9. Artillery in the World Wars

• WWI: Artillery reaches its industrial apex; indirect fire becomes essential due to trench warfare; staggering shell usage.
  • “The number of shells fired during the war exceeded the cumulative artillery expenditure of all prior wars in human history by at least an order of magnitude.” (30:00)
• WWII: Shift to mobility makes static artillery less dominant; radar innovations improve counter-battery tactics.
• Nuclear Artillery:
  • The American M65 “Atomic Annie” could fire nuclear shells, though it was never used in combat.

10. Artillery in the Modern Era

• Emergence of precision-guided munitions using GPS—devastatingly accurate, but also extremely costly ($15,000–$68,000 per shell).
• Rising speculation that artillery’s long dominance may be waning, as drones and high-tech weapons overtake it in future conflicts.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On artillery’s impact:

  “What has allowed this weapon to remain in use for so long is technological advancements which have made artillery more accurate, powerful, and deadly.” (00:30)

• On the fallibility of legendary weapons:

  “Despite the fact that [the Basilica cannon] wasn’t actually very practical, it became legendary for being the weapon to breach the walls that hadn’t been breached in a thousand years.” (10:00)

• On the future of artillery:

  “Some believe that we’ve now reached the end of the line for artillery... Whatever the future holds, I’m sure there’ll be some place for cannons and artillery. But if the trends continue, they might be less important in future wars than they have been since the development of cannons over 600 years ago.” (36:40)

Notable Timestamps

• 04:30 — Early cannons in China and their spread to Europe
• 07:20 — Advancements in cannon casting and stronger alloys
• 09:00 — The Basilica cannon at the Siege of Constantinople
• 13:00 — Inaccuracy of naval artillery in sea battles
• 18:00 — The Gribeauval system of standardization; Napoleon’s artillery-centric strategy
• 28:00 — Transition to smokeless powder and its revolutionary effects
• 30:00 — WWI’s staggering artillery usage and indirect fire
• 36:40 — Reflection on the present and future status of artillery

Conclusion

Gary Arndt’s “Cannons and Artillery” offers a vivid, engaging tour through centuries of military innovation. Listeners come away with an understanding of how artillery not only won battles, but also forced changes in everything from fortress walls to entire military doctrines. The episode’s tone balances informative historical narrative with technical detail and a wry appreciation for the unintended consequences and surprising longevity of “big guns.”

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in military history, technology, or the interplay between invention and human conflict.