From coins to weapons, tools to decorations, metals have played an important role in everyday life from the earliest known times to here today. Metallurgy, or the science that deals with procedures used in extracting metals from their ores, purifying and alloying metals, and creating useful objects from metals, has played a pivotal role in every known civilization. They supply a form of steady trade, the materials needed to make sturdy tools, and the ability to make powerful weapons. Different metals have been used and favored at different times for varying reasons, and it is the purpose of this paper to explore some of those reasons and get a better understands of what metallurgy has done for varying nations.
The process of metallurgy is quite simple. First the ore (the valuable metals found within a rock face) is extracted from the rock face using varying methods of mining. After this, the ore is beaten, crushed and grinded to remove any non-metallic material. Then the ore is placed in a container and stuck in a hot furnace where it is exposed to extreme heat, causing the ore to melt. Once the ore melts, it is then used to form coins, tools, weapons and all other sorts of objects.
Gold
It is clear that some of the aspects of metallurgy were present even in early biblical times. From Exodus when know that the Israelites melted down their golden objects and created the golden calf as an idol. There are many other references to gold scattered in the bible, such as the gold used to build the ark of the covenant. However, this gold seems to have been only used for decoration, idols or other "works of art", and never used for tools, weapons and other such things. There are two reasons behind why this is probably the case. For one, gold was still valuable and rare, no one would think of using a golden pitchfork. Also gold is a very soft metal, and thus cannot be used for hard tasks as it will bend and break easily. The reason gold was common before any other metals is also rather simply, things like silver, copper and iron are all found in veins, while gold is more common in lump form. Thus gold was much easier to extract without proper tools. All of these are the main reasons why gold was used commonly before copper or iron-yet wasn't ever a vital part of its time periods way of life.
Copper
The first metal which was largely used in trade, exploration, welfare and other aspects of life was copper. The reddish-brown metal that is found in a penny was more common in the Middle Eastern area than gold while it melted as the same temperature. However it was harder to extract from a rock face, and people probably did not see how useful it was right away. Copper is also sturdier than gold and thus had more uses. The identified first use of copper was around 4000 BC. It started appearing more regularly as trade expanded. Many areas had the copper ore but could not melt it down because they did not have enough energy to build a fire hot enough to melt the copper. Other places had this energy, but had no ore. Most of these flues came from Summer, and it was the metal trade that helped the Sumerians become and early power. Because of copper's hardness, it made good saws and axes. These saws made cutting down trees easier, as well as cutting through rock and finding more metals. With wood being easier to cut down, this would naturally spur navel industries, which in turn would increase trade. Increased trade would then help produce supplies needed to get more copper. Also, copper coins also were used as an early form of currency. However, it was still rare to see copper used to create weapons, and during this time common stone was still the preferred tool of war. This is probably because copper was still rare, as well as the fact that not as much warfare happened during the copper age as later on. Still, copper was important enough in society that the time period from 4000-2000 BC is commonly called the "Copper age". Today, copper is still used in many coins. Its more common use is in electronically wiring because it is cheep and is an extent conductor. Some computer chips and circuits are created uses copper, and so with the Computer and electronics savvy society we live in today, copper has emerged as one of the most important metals of the 21st century.
Bronze
Around 2000 BC people discovered that adding tin to copper during the melting process produced a material called "bronze". Bronze was better than copper in almost every way, it was easier to work with; sturdier; and, as tin was cheaper than copper, more affordable. Over the next 1600 years bronze surpassed and replaced copper as the important metal to society and started the so called "bronze age". Because bronze was better than copper, it could be used for many different things. It was sturdy enough and affordable enough to make every day tools. Because it was so easy to work with, it could be shaped into arrow heads and sets of armor, as well as axes and sword blades.Bronze, like copper before it, became a popular trade item. This benefited every aspect of the economy. Bronze was also a much nicer looking metal than copper, on top of being easier to shape and mold, and thus became a popular decorator. In fact, bronze is the third place metal given to athletes in the Olympic Games, as well as in many other competitive events.
Iron
The Hittites discovered how to make iron about 1500 BC. Bronze weapons were inferior to iron ones, so the Hittites were more successful at war. For 400 years they kept the art of making iron a secret because it gave the Hittites an advantage over other nations. When the Hittite empire fell apart, the technology of iron making was made known to the Mediterranean peoples from around 1000 BC. In approximately 800 BC the Aryans invaded India, and the Indians learned how to make iron. Between 700 and 600 BC the Chinese learned the art of making iron. By 300 A.D. the Africans had iron.
Iron was a resource that was more common that bronze, sturdier, and better to work with- much like the improvement bronze was over copper. However, for a while furnaces had not been hot enough to melt the iron ore into workable material. Finally furnace methods were able to generate hot enough flame to at least partially melt the iron ore into a workable material. Iron basically replaced Bronze in every aspect expect for art, where bronze was still proffered being gold and silver. Like copper and bronze before it, the time period from around 750 BC-50 AD is called the "Iron age". Also like the ages before it, iron brought increased trade, which made increased wealth which then in turn helped every part of life. In America during the Civil War iron-clad ships were built, with the hope that cannonballs would bounce off of them. Today, iron is still widely used as it is mixed with carbon to form what is probably the world's most important building supply, steel. Along with plastics, steel today is the material used for tools, weapons and contraction.
Conclusion
As we can see from the past 6000 years, the key metal of society has had allot to say in how that society fared during that time. The first thousands of years had little technology advancements and known as the "stone age". With the discovery of copper, things improved and nations grew larger and stronger. Bronze and iron added more to this on growing tower. Later on, steel and then plastics helped even more to benefit society. As for what metals and materials will become the key part in our life to come, no one knows. Perhaps man will find an even better metal scattered on Mars or a moon of Jupiter, or maybe scientists will discover a stronger form of plastics, but whatever it is one this is for sure, it will have a dramatic and important impact of the life of all man-kind.
The process of metallurgy is quite simple. First the ore (the valuable metals found within a rock face) is extracted from the rock face using varying methods of mining. After this, the ore is beaten, crushed and grinded to remove any non-metallic material. Then the ore is placed in a container and stuck in a hot furnace where it is exposed to extreme heat, causing the ore to melt. Once the ore melts, it is then used to form coins, tools, weapons and all other sorts of objects.
Gold
It is clear that some of the aspects of metallurgy were present even in early biblical times. From Exodus when know that the Israelites melted down their golden objects and created the golden calf as an idol. There are many other references to gold scattered in the bible, such as the gold used to build the ark of the covenant. However, this gold seems to have been only used for decoration, idols or other "works of art", and never used for tools, weapons and other such things. There are two reasons behind why this is probably the case. For one, gold was still valuable and rare, no one would think of using a golden pitchfork. Also gold is a very soft metal, and thus cannot be used for hard tasks as it will bend and break easily. The reason gold was common before any other metals is also rather simply, things like silver, copper and iron are all found in veins, while gold is more common in lump form. Thus gold was much easier to extract without proper tools. All of these are the main reasons why gold was used commonly before copper or iron-yet wasn't ever a vital part of its time periods way of life.
Copper
The first metal which was largely used in trade, exploration, welfare and other aspects of life was copper. The reddish-brown metal that is found in a penny was more common in the Middle Eastern area than gold while it melted as the same temperature. However it was harder to extract from a rock face, and people probably did not see how useful it was right away. Copper is also sturdier than gold and thus had more uses. The identified first use of copper was around 4000 BC. It started appearing more regularly as trade expanded. Many areas had the copper ore but could not melt it down because they did not have enough energy to build a fire hot enough to melt the copper. Other places had this energy, but had no ore. Most of these flues came from Summer, and it was the metal trade that helped the Sumerians become and early power. Because of copper's hardness, it made good saws and axes. These saws made cutting down trees easier, as well as cutting through rock and finding more metals. With wood being easier to cut down, this would naturally spur navel industries, which in turn would increase trade. Increased trade would then help produce supplies needed to get more copper. Also, copper coins also were used as an early form of currency. However, it was still rare to see copper used to create weapons, and during this time common stone was still the preferred tool of war. This is probably because copper was still rare, as well as the fact that not as much warfare happened during the copper age as later on. Still, copper was important enough in society that the time period from 4000-2000 BC is commonly called the "Copper age". Today, copper is still used in many coins. Its more common use is in electronically wiring because it is cheep and is an extent conductor. Some computer chips and circuits are created uses copper, and so with the Computer and electronics savvy society we live in today, copper has emerged as one of the most important metals of the 21st century.
Bronze
Around 2000 BC people discovered that adding tin to copper during the melting process produced a material called "bronze". Bronze was better than copper in almost every way, it was easier to work with; sturdier; and, as tin was cheaper than copper, more affordable. Over the next 1600 years bronze surpassed and replaced copper as the important metal to society and started the so called "bronze age". Because bronze was better than copper, it could be used for many different things. It was sturdy enough and affordable enough to make every day tools. Because it was so easy to work with, it could be shaped into arrow heads and sets of armor, as well as axes and sword blades.Bronze, like copper before it, became a popular trade item. This benefited every aspect of the economy. Bronze was also a much nicer looking metal than copper, on top of being easier to shape and mold, and thus became a popular decorator. In fact, bronze is the third place metal given to athletes in the Olympic Games, as well as in many other competitive events.
Iron
The Hittites discovered how to make iron about 1500 BC. Bronze weapons were inferior to iron ones, so the Hittites were more successful at war. For 400 years they kept the art of making iron a secret because it gave the Hittites an advantage over other nations. When the Hittite empire fell apart, the technology of iron making was made known to the Mediterranean peoples from around 1000 BC. In approximately 800 BC the Aryans invaded India, and the Indians learned how to make iron. Between 700 and 600 BC the Chinese learned the art of making iron. By 300 A.D. the Africans had iron.
Iron was a resource that was more common that bronze, sturdier, and better to work with- much like the improvement bronze was over copper. However, for a while furnaces had not been hot enough to melt the iron ore into workable material. Finally furnace methods were able to generate hot enough flame to at least partially melt the iron ore into a workable material. Iron basically replaced Bronze in every aspect expect for art, where bronze was still proffered being gold and silver. Like copper and bronze before it, the time period from around 750 BC-50 AD is called the "Iron age". Also like the ages before it, iron brought increased trade, which made increased wealth which then in turn helped every part of life. In America during the Civil War iron-clad ships were built, with the hope that cannonballs would bounce off of them. Today, iron is still widely used as it is mixed with carbon to form what is probably the world's most important building supply, steel. Along with plastics, steel today is the material used for tools, weapons and contraction.
Conclusion
As we can see from the past 6000 years, the key metal of society has had allot to say in how that society fared during that time. The first thousands of years had little technology advancements and known as the "stone age". With the discovery of copper, things improved and nations grew larger and stronger. Bronze and iron added more to this on growing tower. Later on, steel and then plastics helped even more to benefit society. As for what metals and materials will become the key part in our life to come, no one knows. Perhaps man will find an even better metal scattered on Mars or a moon of Jupiter, or maybe scientists will discover a stronger form of plastics, but whatever it is one this is for sure, it will have a dramatic and important impact of the life of all man-kind.
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