The Maxim Gun: The Weapon that Cleared the Path for European Conquest of Africa in the 19th Century

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The Maxim gun, invented in 1884 by American-born engineer Hiram Maxim, was the world’s first fully automatic machine gun. Capable of firing 500 to 600 bullets per minute, it gave small European forces a staggering advantage over much larger African armies armed with spears, swords, or outdated firearms. Its introduction marked a turning point in […]
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