What early civilizations used iron?
Quick Answer
Iron was available to some of the world's oldest civilizations as early as 1500 B.C., although some accounts place its discovery as far back as 2500 B.C. It is called a "Metal of Antiquity" and was first obtained from meteorites that had fallen to earth.
Continue Reading
Full Answer
The ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans were all known to have used small amounts of iron obtained from meteorites, primarily forging nuggets into ornamental objects. Between 1500 B.C. and 1200 B.C., ironworking developed into a common practice throughout regions known today as southern Europe, the Mediterranean and northern Africa. The "Iron Age," however, is considered to have begun much later, around the first century B.C., when most tools and weapons of war were constructed from the metal. During these early times, iron was much more expensive than gold.
Although products today are made from many materials other than iron, this ancient metal remains one of the most widely used. Iron is combined with carbon to make steel, which is an essential material in the construction industry as well as in the manufacture of automobiles, ship hulls and machine parts.
Learn more about AnthropologyRelated Questions
-
Q:
What is the relationship between cuneiform and hieroglyphics?
A: Both cuneiform and hieroglyphs were developed around 4000 B.C. Among the earliest forms of writing, they both began as pictographic forms which over time b... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What are some facts about the Neolithic Age?
A: The Neolithic age, which took place between 9,000 B.C. and 3,000 B.C., describes the period of human history that featured the use of stone tools, the appe... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What are some examples of human-environment interaction in Rome, Italy?
A: The expansion of the Roman Empire was from about 60 B.C. till the Empire's dissolution in 476 A.D., and many of the innovations that Romans brought to othe... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What are examples of anthropology research topics?
A: Anthropology research topics can include the role women provide to a certain society, the views of the ancestors of a given ethnic group or the different t... Full Answer >Filed Under:
