What Dreams Are Made Of Hillary Duff
The creation and origins of gunpowder is really what lit off the history of fireworks. As the anecdotal story goes, a common Chinese cook accidentally mixed three common kitchen ingredients (KNO3 - Potassium-Nitrate, Sulfur, and Charcoal), accidentally producing a volatile and explosive mixture that would soon be utilized in Chinese warfare.
Among other useful wartime applications were the creation of exploding bamboo sticks and a "rat missile" of sorts, which would be aimed at enemies on horseback in an attempt to get the riders thrown off.
But it would be a long way from rat missiles to " / And certain stars shot madly from their spheres / " - A Midsummer Night's Dream.