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The introduction of explosives into Europe followed the Mahomedan invasion. Greek fire, into the composition of which nitre and sulphur entered, was used prior to the fall of the Western Roman Empire. In 275 A.D. Julius Africanus mentions “shooting powder.” Gunpowder, or some mixture closely resembling it, was used at the siege of Constantinople in 668. The Arabs or Saracens are reputed to have used it at the siege of Mecca in 690; some writers even affirm that it was known to Mahomet. Marcus Graecus described in “Liber ignium” an explosive composed of six parts saltpetre and two parts each of charcoal and sulphur. The MS. copy of this author in the National Library at Paris is said to be of much later date than §46, inscribed upon it; the recipe given is nearly akin to the formula still employed for mixing the ingredients of gunpowder.