[en] After recalling the development of relativistic quantum mechanics, I elucidating the properties of the Duffin-Kemmer-Petiau first-order wave equation for spin-0 and -1 mesons. The DKP equation is formally compared to the Dirac equation, and physically compared to the Klein-Gordon second-order equation for mesons. I point out where the DKP and KG equations predict the same results, and where their predictions are different. I conclude with an example of where these differences might interest people studying quark models of nuclei. 9 refs