New Metal, New Rules
Weapons of the Iron Age:
Weapons in the Iron Age were an upgrade to the
previous Bronze Age weapons. The process to making these weapons was first
shown to have developed in the Middle East around 1200 to 1550 BCE. In that
time the iron working had gradually spread out word and eventually reached
Britain by700 BCE. Because the Iron is harder than Bronze it took a longer
process to form into weapons and tools. It also meant that iron was harder to
melt which meant that it couldn’t be melted and poured into mold. It took time
to make the weapons and tools. The first smiths came around this time because
it the fact iron is a tougher metal and cannot be melted as easily as bronze. To
get the iron to be hammered down easily the put the iron into strips and
spiraled them together than hammered them down to tools and swords. Along with weapons and tools for work came
many other useful items such as the iron age chariots. We know that the use of
chariots were not new at this time but it wasn’t seen that chariots were used
for modified racing or to quickly get a heavily armored soldier in or out of battle. With
this specific tool the battlefield was changed drastically but also with the
armor and shields too. The two horse chariot, like said before was used not
only for racing but for picking up soldiers who had heavy armor and shields.
The modified armor made it difficult to move in battle and having these quicker
chariots made a substantial change on the battle field. Back to the swords that
changed the battle field they were not like the typical swords we think about
hanging from the hip. At first they were more along the lines of large daggers
and were thought to have been carried across the chest or even on the back.
Previously favored in the Bronze Age, the short sword fell out of popularity as
the Iron Age came about. Later bringing the popularity of the long sword with
the Iron Age. The chariot had brought up a newer speed to the battle field and
the armor and weapons a new strength but another aspect that came about from
the chariot was the use of Javelins and spears. The bow also was a good use of
the chariot as people kept quivers attached to the chariots. 
Chariot use
Source:
Kindersley,
Dorling. “Fun Facts for Kids on Animals, Earth, History and More!” DK Find
Out!, 2018, www.dkfindout.com/us/history/iron-age/how-was-iron-made-in-iron-age/.
Newby, Gregg. “Weapons Used in the Iron Age.” Classroom,
2001, classroom.synonym.com/weapons-used-iron-age-18314.html.
we haven't really touched on transportation in class. this was a really interesting article. I initially assumed they had to walk or run everywhere for the tie being because chariots had not become a thing yet. how do you think they came about the idea of building something like this? is it down who invented the chariot. I can see how they became an advantage in war. if you are moving faster than your enemy, even if they have stronger weapons than you it's a great advantage. do you think they struggled at first to get these running fluidly in war/ on the battle field?
ReplyDeleteThis really was a pretty intriguing article to read. Before reading this, I always knew of chariots, but I never thought of them having the use of bringing a heavily armored warrior in and out of battle quickly. With this new form of material available, there were endless new possibilities for creation. It makes me wonder if they had early philosophers, like Galileo, working to help create and transform the tool/weapon industry, and I wonder if we will ever touch base on the possibility of the impact ancient philosophers had? I also agree that with a new material available, its very apparent how battles became more brutal. Civilizations could now fortify themselves better, but they could also inflict more impactful damage. All in all, the creation of this new metal helped push civilization towards more modern times.
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