Bronze Age

Discovery, Scientific

As humans became more sedentary and began to rely more heavily on agriculture, they also developed new technologies to improve their way of life. One of the most important of these was the discovery of bronze.

Up until this point the only metals that where in use where lead, tin, gold and copper. All to soft by themselves to be used in any proper tools, but gold and copper could be cold-worked into simple pieces of jewelry and decorations. Lead and Tin could be smelted quite early on as their smelting point is relatively low, but still mostly for decorative purposes.   Using coal as fuel and more specialized ovens, the melting points of gold and copper was finally overcome. Resulting in widespread use of copper in simple household tools such as small knives, needles and cooking vessels. Copper could now also be used for larger and more elaborate decorative items.   Bronze is an alloy made from copper and tin, and it is much harder and more durable than the materials humans had been using up to that point. The first bronze artifacts were likely made by accident, when small amounts of tin were added to copper during the smelting process. However, it didn't take long for humans to realize the potential of this new material.   The discovery of bronze had a profound impact on human society. With bronze tools and weapons, humans were able to clear more land, build more complex structures, and defend themselves more effectively against enemies. This allowed for the growth of larger and more complex settlements, as well as the emergence of more sophisticated social structures and specialized professions.   The bronze age marks a significant turning point in human history, and the development of bronze tools and weapons paved the way for many more technological advancements to come.   Previous event