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Byzantine Flamethrowers (VII century AD)
The flamethrower, a famous weapon of the XX century, was actually invented at the end of the first millennium in Byzantium. It was called the Greek fire, and its exact composition is still a mystery. Although, one would suspect oil to be one of the main ingredients. Greek fire had to be thrown at opponents somehow, so first, the Byzantines invented hand grenades, and then the first flamethrower. Surprisingly, those ancient death machines used the same principle as the modern ones — a pump, a tank, and a lit wick.
