Musketmaat, fragment bestaande uit leren onderkant met oortjes en restant van kruit. c. 1590 - 1596

Editor: Here we have a fragment of a musket cartridge from around 1590, made of leather and containing a remnant of gunpowder. It looks incredibly fragile. What can you tell me about this piece? Curator: This seemingly simple object is loaded, quite literally, with history. We need to consider it within the socio-political context of its time. In the late 16th century, gunpowder wasn't just an element of warfare; it represented shifting power dynamics. The rise of firearms destabilized the feudal order, centralizing power in emerging nation-states and fundamentally altering relationships between individuals and authority. How do you see that reflected in this seemingly inert artifact? Editor: I suppose I hadn’t considered that... It was more about individual soldiers to me, and what life must have been like for them. But I see your point – gunpowder changed warfare completely, didn’t it? Curator: Precisely! This small fragment represents that large shift. How weapons were used, who had access to them – those became centrally important questions. One could consider the class and identity of those who crafted these objects, too. We rarely examine those everyday workers when looking at the history of conflict. And consider, who was denied access to this new technology? Who benefitted from the shift it brought? Editor: So it’s a lens through which we can view social change. It isn’t just some object. Curator: Absolutely! It helps us examine power structures and understand how technology can reshape society and define who wields control. Hopefully, that inspires you to reconsider some familiar things and events. Editor: I’ll definitely look at gunpowder in a different light now! Thank you!