Final answer:
Shotguns use a cartridge that may contain a single shot or many small projectiles called shot; the evolving power of firearms profoundly impacted warfare tactics and outcomes in history.
Step-by-step explanation:
Shotguns use a cartridge, containing either a single shot or a large number of small projectiles, called shot. The increasing power of weaponry, including firearms like the shotgun, has led to a substantial change in the art of warfare. From early firearms like the arquebus, which were heavy and slow to reload, to steamships that carried more advanced weapons into various continents, the development and diffusion of firearms have had significant impacts in military tactics and turned the tide of colonial confrontations. Automatic weapons, like machine guns, further revolutionized military engagements with their rapid-fire capabilities, transforming the strategy and realities of combat.