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"(Western) Rome wasn't around in 1000AD, Europe was."

True, but your original claim was about Rome ignoring a technology that wasn't available until 524 years after Rome fell. And I'd still like to see some evidence that gunpowder existed before 476 as well so that Rome could ignore it.

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All good comments.

Western Roman empire fell in 476.

Wasn't available until after Rome fell? That was my point - it was there all the time (perhaps since 200AD, certainly at 500AD).

Gunpowder? No. Saltpeter was known by the 1st century AD; but saltpeter is not gunpowder. The earliest reference to gunpowder is from the mid-9th century; but then it was an alchemical curiosity. The earliest reference to using gunpowder is from the mid-11th century.

(All according to Wikipedia.)

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