COMENIUS: the harquebus

In the 15^th century the Spanish invented the arquebus
The arquebus /ˈɑrkɨbʌs/ is a low-velocity firearm. It was used in the 15th to 17th centuries. It was light and easy to carry. It is a forerunner of the rifle.

The arquebus was used against enemies who were often partially or fully protected by steel-plate armour (coraza).

This is a drawing of a soldier firing a harquebus.(drawing)

            At  the time when the arquebus was invented, the southern part of the Peninsula was still in the hands of the Muslims. And Isabella and Ferdinand, known as the Catholic monarchs, decided to finish the reconquest of Al-Andalus and they conquered  the kingdom of Granada. (map of the Reconquest in the 15^th century)The Christian soldiers used this new invention, the harquebus, to fight the Muslims.

           At that time,  a Genovese sailor, Christopher Columbus, had a project and told the Queen Isabella about it:

Christopher Columbus: Dear Majesty, can I talk to you?

The Queen: Of couse.

Christopher Columbus:  I´ve got a very interesting sailing project.

 The Queen: Tell me about it

Christopher Columbus:  I think I can find a new route to get to the Indies going this way.(world map)

The Queen: OK, I like it, I will give you the money for the project.

            At the end, Christopher Columbus discovered a new continent and that was the beginning of the development of the Spanish empire. The arquebus was one of the weapons used for the conquest of those territories.