The Gatling gun is an early type of machine gun invented by Richard Gatling in 1861. It features multiple rotating barrels that allow for rapid firing of bullets. The design uses a hand-crank mechanism, enabling the operator to fire several hundred rounds per minute, making it a significant advancement in weaponry during its time. Initially used in the American Civil War, the Gatling gun was later adopted by various military forces around the world. Its effectiveness in battle led to improvements in automatic firearms, influencing the development of modern machine guns and changing the nature of warfare.