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The Bronze Age was a period of prehistoric societies where metallurgy advanced to produce bronze, but not yet iron. It lasted from 3500 BC to 1200 BC and allowed for the creation of more durable tools and artifacts. The birthplace of metallurgy is Anatolia, Turkey.
The Bronze Age refers to a time period in prehistoric societies in which metallurgy had advanced to the point of producing bronze – an alloy of tin and copper – from naturally occurring ores, but not yet to the point of systematic iron production ( the Iron Age). This period is more advanced than the Stone Age, where artifacts and tools are largely made from carved stone. Stone, bronze, and iron make up the traditional three-age system for classifying prehistoric cultures. In some areas of the Earth, such as Africa, some groups have gone directly from the Stone Age to the Iron Age, and rare groups, such as isolated Amazonian tribes in Brazil, have not yet passed the Stone Age.
This period took place mainly between 3500 BC and 1200 BC and is traditionally divided into Early (c.3500-2000 BC), Middle (c.2000-1600 BC), and Late (c.1600-1200 BC), with progressively more sophisticated metallurgy, culminating in the discovery of iron working.
The Bronze Age began 5,500 years ago in present-day areas of Turkey, Iran, and Iraq, which was also the cradle of human civilization. At that time, the permanent settlements were already a few thousand years old, but it took some time for these first people to discover the potential of metallic ores. The birthplace of metallurgy is usually considered Anatolia, Turkey.
The Indian Bronze Age began in 3300 BC with the Indus Valley Civilization. In China and Southeast Asia it began around 2100 BC. Across Europe, people began using this metal between about 2100 BC and 2000 BC, with sophisticated civilizations springing up during the 2nd millennium BC
This period of development was important to mankind because it allowed people to create more durable tools and artifacts for productive use. Bronze is preferable to stone for a wide variety of applications: whether someone is crafting a knife, an axe, armor, pottery, or a work of art, bronze is harder and more durable. A more durable capital base increases the potential for sustained economic activity, but also for war.
During this era, much of humanity was segmented into thousands of warring tribes. Small nations existed, but it would be many centuries before countries resembling today’s ones – such as the Roman Empire – were born.
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