What is the Iron Age? – Iron Age Features

The Iron Age is a historical period known by that name for the widespread use of iron for the manufacture of tools, weapons, and other objects in human material culture. Located chronologically after the Bronze Age and before the Ancient Age, which is why it is considered one of the 3 ages of prehistory.

The Iron Age represents the periodization that marked him before and he after the prehistoric times of the world. This is divided into the Early Iron Age, the Middle Iron Age, and the Late Iron Age. During this time, major social, political, and economic changes took place around the world, leading to the formation of complex societies and civilizations in different parts of the globe.

On what dates did the Iron Age occur?

The Iron Age is a historical period that falls chronologically after the Bronze Age and before the Ancient Ages. Although the exact dates of the start and end of the Iron Age vary by geographic and cultural region, it is generally accepted that it began around 1200 BC and ended around 500 BC.

During this time, there was an increase in the use of iron for tool or weapon manufacture, which allowed societies to produce more durable and more readily available objects. Iron was also used for construction of buildings and structureswhich allowed societies to expand their settlements as well as their fortifications.

The Iron Age was a time of major social and political changes around the world. In Europe, there were important migrations and the formation of complex societies, such as the Celtic culture. In Asia, the Zhou dynasty ruled China for much of the Iron Age, while in India, the Indus Valley civilization continued its development.

In Africa, the Iron Age was characterized by the expansion of trade and the creation of empires such as that of Kush in Sudan and Ethiopia, that of Aksum in Eritrea and Ethiopia. In America, the Iron Age refers to the expansion of pre-Columbian culturessuch as the Mayan culture in Central America and the Moche culture in South America.

In this way we can understand how the iron age revolutionized the world at that time, directly impacting societies around the world.

What are the characteristics of the Iron Age?

The main features of the Iron Age include:

• Use of iron: Iron was the main raw material used during the Iron Age. Iron production became an important economic activity in many regions of the world, allowing companies to produce more resistant objects.
• Technological development: During the Iron Age, there was an important technological developmentsuch as the invention of the blast furnace for the production of iron, which allowed a greater production of tools and weapons.
• Development of agriculture: The Iron Age was characterized by an important agriculture development in many regions of the world. This allowed societies to produce food in greater quantity and with greater efficiency.
• Formation of complex societies: During the Iron Age, the ‘formation of complex societies’ occurred in different parts of the world. This was partly due to the development of agriculture and the increased food production.
• Development of writing: The Iron Age was also characterized by the development of writing in many cultures, which allowed for the creation of records and the transmission of knowledge.

What materials were developed in the Iron Age?

During the Iron Age, the main development was the production of iron objects and tools, which replaced the bronze and copper materials used during the Copper Age. Other important materials were also used during this period.

One of the most important materials was glass, which was developed in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia around the second millennium BC. Glass was used to make jewelry, decorative objects and containers storage.

Pottery also developed significantly during the Iron Age. Iron Age societies produced high-quality pottery for cooking, storage, and decoration. Ceramics became an important form of artistic and cultural expression in many societies.

Another important material that developed during this period was leather, which was used to make clothing, shoes, bags, and other objects. Leather became an important material for personal protection and comfort during the Iron Age.

Furthermore, wood was an important material for the construction of buildings, tools and other objects during the Iron Age. The wood was used to build houses, fortifications, shipsand was also used to make tools and utensils.

Although iron was the main material developed during the Iron Age, there were also important advances in other materials such as glass, ceramics, leather, and wood, which contributed to the development of the material culture of the societies of the time.

What are the stages of the Iron Age?

The Iron Age is divided into three main stages: the Early Iron Age, the Middle Iron Age, and the Late Iron Age. Each of these stages is briefly described below:

Early Iron Age: This stage is located between approximately 1200 and 800 BC. During this time, the use of iron began to spread throughout the world, allowing the production of more durable and efficient tools or weapons. There was also an increase in agricultural production, which allowed the emergence of more complex societies.

Middle Iron Age: This stage is located between approximately 800 and 500 BC. During this time, an important technological development took place, such as the invention of the blast furnace for the production of iron, which allowed for greater production of tools and weapons. There was also the formation of complex and organized societies in different parts of the world.

Late Iron Age: This stage is located between 500 BC and the Ancient Age. During this time, the expansion of several important cultures took place, such as the Celtic culture in Europe, the Qin Dynasty in China, and the Persian Empire in Asia. There was also a significant development of writing in many cultures, allowing for the creation of records and the transmission of knowledge.