Iron Age: Characteristics Of This Stage Of Prehistory
Throughout history, there have been several events that have indicated the end of one era and the beginning of another.
Aspects that are commonplace to us today, such as the mastery of fire, writing or the wheel, were of great relevance for ancient cultures and marked a before and after in their history.
In this article We are going to talk about the Iron Age, the last great period of Prehistory, which receives this name because humans managed to find a way to work that metal. Let’s see what happened at this time, what great discoveries were made and how they were decisive in the formation of what our society is today.
The Iron Age, which began around 1000 BC, is the last metallurgical period of Prehistory, that is, it was the last stage in history that receives the name of a metal, its predecessors being the Copper Age (6500 BC). and the Bronze Age (2800 BC).
The main great event that occurred at this time was the ability to extract iron and mold it so that weapons, tools and other utensils could be made.
Iron is not a more resistant mineral than copper or tin, but it is a very abundant metal. For this reason, when it was discovered how to work with it, there was a 180-degree turn in history, since a way to shape an economical, abundant and very useful material was achieved, in addition to representing an authentic technological revolution.
The Iron Age is divided into two major subperiods.
Before addressing the specific characteristics of this great period, it should be noted that the Iron Age It was not a homogeneous period worldwide nor did its beginning occur simultaneously in all cultures on the planet
Depending on the continent, and according to historians, the Iron Age has different start dates. When it was discovered how to work iron, this great discovery gradually spread to other parts of the world. In the Ancient East this period emerged around the 12th century BC, while in central Europe it began later, in the 8th BC, and in northern Europe in the 6th. BC In Africa, in what would now be Nigeria, it began around the 11th century BC
1. Smelting and extraction of iron
The beginning of this great age was, as we have already mentioned, when humans discovered how to work iron.
Iron is a metal that has a high melting point, 1,538 °C/ 1808 ºK. It is for this reason that It is believed that the discovery of how to melt it was accidental given that it is surprising that prehistoric humans managed to reach such high temperatures.
It is hypothesized that someone must have accidentally thrown stones with iron into the fire and that, upon seeing how this mineral melted and could be worked, They began to experiment with this and the casting technique was perfected This is the fundamental characteristic of the Iron Age.
2. Resistance vs abundance
Compared to the metal most used in the previous stage, bronze, iron has low resistance.
Nevertheless, It is one of the most common minerals on Earth, being the fourth most common element in the Earth’s crust and the substance that makes up 70% of the core of our planet.
It is for this reason that its use, compared to other minerals, is very economical, since it is practically everywhere.
3. Weapons
Although it may sound pessimistic to say it, the main engine of technological and scientific development in history has been war.
Weapon manufacturing increased thanks to the fact that this mineral was more common.
Weapons were manufactured in a manner similar to the mass manufacturing of modern industry. Cultures that mastered techniques for making iron weapons became strong civilizations that subjugated other peoples.
4. Agriculture
Prehistoric agriculture benefited from the use of this mineral, since tools for the field could be manufactured, such as plow tips and axes
This fact made it possible to harvest more, more effectively and requiring less time. Furthermore, despite its lower resistance than bronze, harder floors could be worked on as it was a more common material.
5. Aesthetic culture and art
Better agriculture means more food and more weapons provide security. Thanks to this, the human being of the time had the ability to specialize in activities independent of obtaining food
To entertain themselves, the people of these ancient cultures made jewelry, more complex clothing and handcrafted objects, which represented a great cultural advance and a very striking change in prehistoric art.
Each culture developed its own styles, which implied an increase in cultural differences. Besides, Companies specialized in the production of certain manufactured products were emerging and perfected specific economic activities.
Directly related to the manufacture of crafts, arises the need and interest in exchanging products between cultures
Thus, means of transportation were also improved, facilitating contact between cultures and, also, better exploration of the world, expanding what was known until now. Great inventions of the Iron Age that enabled this were the wheel and the sailing ship.
7. Demographic growth
With improved agriculture and greater security, there was a demographic increase
In addition, the houses were built with more solid materials and following techniques that allowed them to be manufactured more efficiently and quickly. The first fortifications were also created, such as walls and buildings with thicker walls.
8. Intellectual development
The advances that occurred at this time contributed to the expansion of knowledge of the world and also the intellectual capacity of human beings. by having more contacts with other cultures
That is, with better transportation, it was easier to discover other cultures, with their own technological advances, which were shared, culturally enriching other societies.
End of the Iron Age
Despite the great technological advance that represented the discovery of how to work iron, in addition to improvements in navigation, agriculture, defense and art, throughout the Iron Age there is no written record that can explain to us exactly how the people of that time lived. .
The great event that put an end to it was the invention of writing, about 3,000 years ago ending both the Iron Age and the Metal Age and beginning the Ancient Age.
