Khergiter
Veteran
Notice the word "might be". I research much about Asian history, not everyone in Asia. The same coud be said to Serbian.
The first is more accurate (I don't really think I should use the term "expert", it seems a little overestimate), although that being an Asian could make you easier to become an expert on its history.
Of course, I read these in my book, but I don't know if there are some source on the Internet. Also I don't know what kind of source you want to know, like document or picture?
There is one document on wiki, which I find it accurate. Although it is recorded in 1231, but generally mine had been invented before.
The first accounts of bombs made of cast iron shells packed with explosive gunpowder—as opposed to earlier types of castings—was written in the 13th century in China. The term was coined for this bomb (i.e. "thunder-crash bomb") during a Jin Dynasty (1115–1234) naval battle of 1231 against the Mongols. The History of Jin (compiled by 1345) states that in 1232, as the Mongol general Subutai (1176–124
descended on the Jin stronghold of Kaifeng, the defenders had a "thunder-crash bomb" which "consisted of gunpowder put into an iron container...then when the fuse was lit (and the projectile shot off) there was a great explosion the noise whereof was like thunder, audible for more than a hundred li, and the vegetation was scorched and blasted by the heat over an area of more than half a mou. When hit, even iron armour was quite pierced through."Another one on timelineindex.com
"Gunpowder, reportedly produced from saltpetre, sulphur and charcoal, is a Chinese invention. Earliest records of the formula date to the 800s. The Chinese used gunpowder to propel rockets, and to produce incendiary and explosive projectiles thrown by catapult. By the 1200s, a Chinese Bureau of Munitions was operating seven factories that produced 7,000 rockets and 21,000 bombs a day. The weaponry included a so-called "thunder-crash bomb", which the Chinese unleashed in 1232 on Mongol troops besieging Kaifeng, capital of the north Chinese Jin Empire. During the later years of the 13th century, the Chinese invented cannons, using gunpowder to fire projectiles from metal barrels."
You can read about fire lance on Wikipedia. But overall, they contain the same definition like this.
"The pear-flower spear or li hua ch'iang was an early form of fire lance, that is a spear like weapon combining a long spear with a simple firework like charge at the end underneath the spear head. The firework would shoot out a small projectile or poison along with the flame. The weapon had a range of only a few feet so was used in close combat and was a key stage in the development of the firearm. The first fire-lances were seen in China during the 10th century but by about 1260 they had developed into a variety of forms and although normally associated with peasant rebels regular Sung troops also used them, their use by cavalry being described at the siege of Yangchow in 1276. They were cheap and popular for several centuries sometimes being used in racks to defend cities and remained in use until well after the Ming period. The development of gunpowder in the fire lance to have enough force to hurl a killing projectile was a key step along the development of the first true guns."
If you want some proof, then in this image. (Sorry it's kinda small) Notice the upper right corner, the demon with red loincloth carrying a fire lance, while the lower demon holding a early grenade (exploding device). This picture is a photo of a silk painting in Dunhuang, dating around 10th century, in the Tang dynasty.
http://kaleidoscope.cultural-china.com/chinaWH/upload/upfiles/2008-12/08/fire_lance08d3d9e86fc3208d36ed.jpg
So, is there anything else I can do for you?
