Social and Economic Impact

 ECONOMIC IMPACT
Cannons have had a dramatic impact over time. From spending billions on the production of cannons, from researching designs and garnering supplies, cannons are not cheap. (Not that any other weapons of mass destruction are). For example, the M198 howitzer costs $527,337 to produce.
Cannons can supply jobs for many people during the creation of the cannons, helping families around the world. Another way cannons produce a profit- in raids against other places they are more effective, cutting down on the men needed to fight. Not only do you need less men, but they can more quickly demolish the enemy. In that, you gain land more efficiently.

SOCIAL IMPACT

As I said before, cannons have dramatically helped in gaining land, and conquering castles etc. Cannons such as trebuchets helped in taking over rival castles. Like in the Siege of Dover in 1216, where trebuchets were used to take over the Castle of Dover.Although trebuchets became widely popular, and helped in many battles, their use waned as gunpowder emerged.

In the 1800s gunpowder as became more prevalent, and cannons were used more frequently, like in the Civil War.The north used cannons to their advantage, as they produced more of them, which helped with their victory. Cannons also helped make the French's army the finest in the 19th century by putting their cannons in a battery (a term for a group of guns or missles).This method was used at the battle of Friedland, when 66 guns fired 3000 roundshot and 500 grapeshot. This caused severe damage on the Russians, whom had 20,000 of their men killed and wounded (total). And in the Battle of Waterloo, the French army had more artillery then either the Prussians or the British.

In the 1900s weapon sophistication was amped up.Cannons became more of mega guns on various transportation devices. They have evolved greatly from where they were. In World War Two, autocannons were mounted on airfighters, and proved to be affective.