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.
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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. What exactly is the Iron Age and when did it begin?
The Iron Age is the historical period following the Bronze Age, characterized by the widespread use of iron for making tools and weapons. The key development was not just finding iron from meteorites but mastering smelting—the process of extracting usable iron from its ore. It began at different times globally, starting around 1200 BCE in the Ancient Near East and spreading from there.
2. What was the main impact of iron technology on ancient civilizations?
The main impact was the significant expansion of access to metal tools and weapons. Iron ore is far more common than the copper and tin needed for bronze. This availability allowed for:
- More efficient farming with stronger ploughs, axes, and sickles.
- Larger and better-equipped armies with durable iron swords and armour.
- The growth of specialised crafts like blacksmithing, which supported entire communities.
3. How was iron superior to bronze, and why was this transition so significant?
Iron's superiority over bronze came from two main factors. First, through processes like carburising (adding carbon), iron could be converted into steel, which is far harder and more durable than bronze. Second, and more importantly, iron ore is extremely abundant and widely available, unlike the relatively rare tin required to make bronze. The significance of this transition was accessibility; it allowed ordinary farmers, not just the wealthy elite, to afford strong metal tools, which revolutionised agriculture and daily life for the masses.
4. In what ways did the use of iron tools transform agriculture and warfare?
Iron tools caused a revolution in both fields. In agriculture, strong iron ploughshares could break up heavy, dense soils that were previously unfarmable, and iron axes could clear forests more effectively. This dramatically increased arable land and food production. In warfare, iron weapons like swords and spearheads were tougher, held a sharper edge, and could be mass-produced, allowing for the creation of large, well-equipped armies that changed the scale of conflict.
5. How did improved agriculture during the Iron Age contribute to the growth of cities and empires?
Improved agriculture, powered by iron tools, created a consistent food surplus. This was a critical turning point because it meant that not everyone in a society needed to be a farmer. A reliable food surplus could support:
- A rapidly growing population.
- A diverse class of non-farmers, including specialised artisans, soldiers, priests, and government administrators.
- The development of larger, permanent settlements that grew into cities.
6. What are some major examples of Iron Age civilizations studied in the NCERT syllabus?
The NCERT syllabus for ancient history highlights several key Iron Age cultures and empires, including:
- The Later Vedic Period in India, which saw the widespread adoption of iron technology in the Gangetic plains.
- The rise of the Mahajanapadas in ancient India, whose political and economic power was tied to control over iron resources.
- The Achaemenid Empire in Persia and the Hellenistic kingdoms in the Mediterranean.
- The Roman Republic and Empire, whose military dominance and engineering feats heavily depended on iron and steel.
7. How did the Iron Age manifest in India, and what was the Painted Grey Ware culture?
The Iron Age in India began around 1000 BCE. Its early phase in the Indo-Gangetic Plain is closely associated with the Painted Grey Ware (PGW) culture. This archaeological culture is known for its distinctive style of fine, grey pottery. The PGW sites show the first extensive use of iron for tools like sickles and ploughshares, and weapons like arrowheads. This technology was crucial for clearing the dense forests of the Gangetic valley, enabling the shift to a settled agricultural society.
8. Did the Iron Age start at the same time everywhere in the world?
No, the transition to the Iron Age was not a simultaneous global event. It occurred at different times in different regions, spreading from its point of origin. It began in the Ancient Near East and Anatolia around 1200 BCE. From there, the technology and knowledge spread to Europe and India by around 1000–800 BCE. It reached other parts of Africa and East Asia even later. Some regions, such as the Americas and Australia, did not have an Iron Age before contact with Europeans.
9. What major historical developments marked the end of the Iron Age?
The end of the Iron Age is not marked by the discovery of a new material, but rather by major historical and cultural shifts that make the term less relevant. In many regions, the period is considered to end with the beginning of detailed written history or the conquest by a major literate empire. For instance, in the Mediterranean, the rise and documentation of the Roman Empire signifies the transition to the "Classical Antiquity" period, making the broad label "Iron Age" obsolete for that region.
