Explanation: It’s sometimes considered that the first definite use of hand grenades comes from the Byzantine Empire, using ‘Greek Fire’ in small clay jars as dedicated throwing weapons for specialist infantry. While incendiaries were known before this point, Greek Fire was potent enough that even a small amount that could be thrown by hand was… capable of wreaking havoc. Especially for naval infantry targeting wooden ships, as water was largely ineffective against Greek Fire.
Previous incendiaries are generally accepted to have been thrown by catapults and other such siege weapons, rather than by hand.
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Explanation: It’s sometimes considered that the first definite use of hand grenades comes from the Byzantine Empire, using ‘Greek Fire’ in small clay jars as dedicated throwing weapons for specialist infantry. While incendiaries were known before this point, Greek Fire was potent enough that even a small amount that could be thrown by hand was… capable of wreaking havoc. Especially for naval infantry targeting wooden ships, as water was largely ineffective against Greek Fire.
Previous incendiaries are generally accepted to have been thrown by catapults and other such siege weapons, rather than by hand.