Editing Musketeer (section)

==Historical antecedents==
The [[hand cannon]] was invented in [[Song dynasty|Song dynasty China]] in the 12th century and was in widespread use there in the 13th century. It spread westward across Asia during the 14th century. The hand cannon evolved into the [[arquebus]] that appeared in Europe and the [[Ottoman Empire]] during the 15th century. The term [[musket]] was originally used to describe a heavy arquebus capable of penetrating heavy armor. Although this heavy version of the musket fell out of use after the mid-16th century with the decline of heavy armor, the term "musket" remained as a general descriptor and lent its name to the infantry type known as the musketeer.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Arnold |first1=Thomas |title=The Renaissance at War |date=2001 |publisher=Cassell & Co |isbn=0-304-35270-5 |pages=75-78}}</ref>