Western Civilization I / Unit 2 WC1 0114 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Why Iron Replaced Bronze, Slowly
Captions available
The idea
Bronze needed tin from as far as Afghanistan, so it depended on long-distance trade that the collapse destroyed. Iron needs no alloy and lies everywhere, but it is hard to work. It spread slowly, and bronze weapons persisted for centuries.
In practice
Egypt not an iron economy until the seventh century.
Where people slip
Iron was cheaper and more available, not better at first.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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