Iron Age and its Historical Facts
There are significant development phases historians have found through the evidence showing exceptional development in lifestyle, tools, weaponry, etc. Iron Age, one of the significant technological developments in the history of humankind in terms of metallurgy, comes right after the Stone Age and Bronze Age. In this article, we will study what the Iron Age is and why it is important for the historical development of human civilizations. We will also find out the geographical location of its first origin and the introduction of iron revolutionized the progress of the then modern civilizations.
What is the Iron Age?
Human civilization has come across a lot of changes and transformations in terms of various activities such as the use of tools, agriculture, animal husbandry, settlements, dynastic developments, etc. A significant development often depicts a historical age as it has remarkably changed the lives of humans. One such reference is the material used for making utensils, tools, and weaponry. The last metallurgical advancement witnessed in human civilization is the Iron Age.
It is the final cultural and technological development phase, stage, or era where humans learned how to use iron, a better material for developing tools and utensils. It is called the Iron Age as it replaced the tools and utensils made of bronze. The introduction of this metal can still be felt in every nook and corner of all the industries today.
(Image will be Updated soon)
The use of iron was different in different parts of the world. For instance, it began in the Middle East and then proceeded to the southeastern part of the European continent by 1200 BCE. It then propagated towards China in 600 BCE. Due to the variation in the use of iron in different parts of the world, the usage also varied.
When Did the Iron Age Begin?
As per the historical sources and evidence, the Iron Age started in 1200 BCE in the Middle East and then proceeded to China after covering the southeastern part of Europe till 600 BCE. During this time, people across Asia, Europe, and a smaller part of the African continent have started using iron for manufacturing implements, tools, utensils, and weapons.
In fact, in this era, historians have excavated implements made of steel. It shows how the humans were experimenting to find a stronger alloy from iron using the available resources. It is also noteworthy that the beginning of the Iron Age also shows the period of cultural decline in various historical societies that includes Greece. The Iron Age period might have extended within the Bronze Age but humans did not consider iron as a noble one. Due to its color, they considered it inferior and focused on using bronze more. At that time, iron was not as durable to use and replace bronze.
Later, in the Iron Age time period, the advent of skills to make steel out of iron made humans choose this alloy for better results. This period also signifies the downfalls of top civilizations such as the Hittite Empire (Turkey) and the Mycenaean Civilization (Greece). The remarkable cities of Gaza and Troy were destroyed and the trade routes were eventually fading away. The rate of literacy declined to cause a chaotic situation and the commencement of the dark ages.
When Was Iron Discovered?
This can be an interesting question that defines the period of the Iron Age. The oldest trace of iron can be found in different places dating back to the time before 5000 BCE. One of the prime historic artifacts unearthed in Greenland is a harpoon made of narwhal tusk and a sharp iron head. It dates back to 3500 BC. It is concluded that this iron was extracted from the meteorites fallen on earth.
Egyptians were also using iron as one of the prime metals along with bronze, copper, silver, and gold in between 3000 to 2500 BCE. Iron was not a prominent choice, as mentioned earlier, as it was not as durable as bronze forged back then. The advent of steel in human civilization revolutionized the durability and longevity of the implements leading to the beginning of the Iron Age in 1200 BCE.
Impact of Iron Age on Human Civilization
If we consider the development of the Bronze Age to the Iron Age period, we can easily find out how it impacted civilization back then. Despite being present in the list of metals and alloys used before the advent of the Iron Age, it was still not the first choice.
Humans learned how to forge steel from this metal. This is what the Iron Age stands for. They previously used meteoritic iron as it can be cold forged due to the presence of 7.5% nickel. This is why the tools and implements did not hold the features for long. Humans searched for better alloys that can replace bronze and finally found steel, the ultimate alloy that changed the course of human history.
The introduction of iron thus triggered a faster development in different phases of life. The Implements, tools, and weapons became better. Humans started to settle down and new occupations came into being. This invention of the Iron Age resulted in the industrial revolutions we have witnessed in the modern history of human civilization.
This metallurgical age is the last and most significant development that catapulted the development of human civilization. Iron Age civilization thus is the strongest platform we needed to become what we are today.
FAQs on The Impact of Iron Age in Human Civilization
1. When did iron appear in human history?
It was before 5000 BC when Iron was discovered according to the historical artifacts. It was found in the form of weapons and tools but the sources were meteorites.
2. What do we learn from the history of the Iron Age?
We understand that humans were previously using stones for making utensils, tools, and weapons. We then advanced to use metals and alloys and the introduction of iron before 5000 BCE sealed the fate of the development of human civilizations. We learned to forge steel, a better and stronger alloy that resulted in the modern developments we are enjoying.
