What was it called before it was called "GunPowder " since the gun came later?

Answer 1

Hi Hot Shot,
Click on this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunpowder
black powder or smokeless powder.

Here is a sample.
Gunpowder, whether black powder or smokeless powder, is a substance that burns very rapidly, releasing gases that act as a propellant in firearms. Both forms of gunpowder are low explosives. As it burns, a subsonic deflagration wave is produced rather than the supersonic detonation wave which high explosives produce. As a result, pressures generated inside a gun are sufficient to propel a bullet, but not sufficient to destroy the barrel. At the same time, this makes gunpowder less suitable for shattering rock or fortifications, applications where high explosives are preferred.

History and origins
A Mongol bomb thrown against a charging Japanese samurai during the Mongol Invasions of Japan, 1281.Historians of gunpowder, such as Joseph Needham, sometimes use the word gunpowder to refer not only to the explosive defined at the top of this article, but to previous concoctions of combustible material mixed with saltpetre. The definition of gunpowder used in this history is that given at the top of this article, namely, black powder or smokeless powder. Previous saltpetre explosives, including those made from the ancient Chinese recipes, which were less powerful than gunpowder, are here referred to as saltpetre explosives. Of course, gunpowder itself is also a saltpetre explosive.

Answer 2

In Germany we call it "Schwarzpulver" which means black powder. Hence, the other answers seem to be reasonable possibilities, but I don't know for sure.
But, I really wanted to comment the previous answerer: In Germany saying "Deutschland über alles" is very controversial. Germans are very sensitive on that topic. It is only used by right-wing extremists. You know, those with the shaven head and stuff. These are the first words of the German national anthem. The first two stanzas are prohibited today, as it is extremely nationalistic. We only sing the third stanza today.

Answer 3

As pointed out, black powder was it's most common name. It was also sometimes called sulferous or explosive salt peter after some of its key ingedients.

Answer 4

It was called firecracker powder, because it was invented by the Chinese for that. They also invented the printing press, but their written language (pictograph) made it impracticable until Gutenberg (1445) in Germany. (Deutschland uber alles)

Answer 5

Black Powder

Answer 6

Didn't the chinese call it Black Powder or something?

Answer 7

Black powder.