Full Answer
What happened in the Iron Age I period?
In the Iron Age I period, new ethnic and political identities emerged across the Levant. Israelites, Philistines and Arameans, among others, are identified as "peoples" for the first time. As Egyptian rule in Canaan collapsed towards the end of the New Kingdom, new patterns of settlement and lifestyle emerged.
When did the Iron Age start in the Near East?
Ancient Near East. The Iron Age in the Ancient Near East is believed to have begun with the discovery of iron smelting and smithing techniques in Anatolia or the Caucasus and Balkans in the late 2nd millennium BC (c. 1300 BC). The earliest bloomery smelting of iron is found at Tell Hammeh, Jordan around 930 BC ( 14C dating).
How did social change occur in the Iron Age?
Social Change in the Iron Age . By the late 6th century BC, construction had begun on fortresses on the tops of hills. Building within the Hallstatt hillforts was quite dense, with rectangular timber-framed buildings built close together. Below the hilltop (and outside the fortifications) lay extensive suburbs.
Who were the people of the Iron Age?
In the Iron Age I period, new ethnic and political identities emerged across the Levant. Israelites, Philistines and Arameans, among others, are identified as "peoples" for the first time.
What were the settlements like in the Iron Age?
Iron Age Hill Forts Walls and ditches surrounded the forts, and warriors defended hill forts against attacks by rival clans. Inside the hill forts, families lived in simple, round houses made of mud and wood with thatched roofs. They grew crops and kept livestock, including goats, sheep, pigs, cows and geese.
Why was it called the Iron Age?
'The Iron Age' is the name given to the time period (from approximately 500 BC to 43 AD in Britain) where iron became the preferred choice of metal for making tools. In Europe, The Iron Age marks the end of prehistory after the Stone Age and the Bronze Age.
How did people survive in the Iron Age?
Iron Age Food & Farming The iron age people were mostly farmers and they depended on farming for their survival. They used innovative tools to cultivate crops such as wheat, barley peas, beans, and grains. Cooking tools were also invented such as metal cauldrons and vessels.
How did the Iron Age work?
The Iron Age is the period that came after the Bronze Age. The Iron Age occurred approximately 3000 years ago depending on the region, and in Britain it lasted from around 500 BC to 43 AD. People discovered iron at this time. It quickly became the preferred choice of metal, replacing the use of bronze in metalworking.
Are we still in the Iron Age?
Our current archaeological three-age system – Stone Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age – ends in the same place, and suggests that we haven't yet left the iron age.
What do Iron Age houses look like?
These were simple one-roomed homes with a pointed thatched roof and walls made from wattle and daub (a mixture of mud and twigs). In the centre of a round house was a fire where meals were cooked in a cauldron. Around the walls were jars for storing food and beds made from straw covered with animal skins.
What food did they eat in Iron Age?
Iron Age people ate crops like wheat, barley, peas, flax and beans. They also ate meat like cattle, sheep and pigs. Archaeologists working on Iron Age settlements have found evidence of craft activities such as weaving, pot-making, wood and metal-working.
What did the Iron Age drink?
ALE, MEAD, AND WINE Mead was primarily an elite drink because it was produced from honey taken from the hives of wild bees, the only form of sweetener available to prehistoric European peoples and therefore a valuable commodity.
Who is the most important person in Iron Age?
BlacksmithBlacksmith. The blacksmith made metal objects. He was the most important person in the village after the warriors and the priests.
How long did the Iron Age last?
The period known as the Iron Age lasted in Britain for about 800 years (from c. 750 BC to AD 43). The changes and technological innovations that occurred during this time were every bit as evolutionary as those that have occurred in the last 800 years, from the 13th century to the present day.
Where did iron come from in the Iron Age?
Ironworking became widespread during the Iron Age from around 1200 BCE. Iron was found in rocks called iron ore. Making iron from iron ore (smelting) needed very high temperatures.
How did Iron Age man make iron?
Blacksmiths produced iron using charcoal-fired shaft furnaces. Iron ore was smelted to produce a 'bloom' (see the picture) which is a spongy mixture of metal and impurities. The bloom had to be further refined by repeated heating and hammering.
Why was the Bronze Age before the Iron Age?
Iron is (was) easy to pick up right from the ground. People could just heat it in a fire and start using it right away. But bronze is an alloy, it requires melting two metals together in order to work with it.
What is the difference between Stone Age and Iron Age?
The Stone Age in Britain was when humans first properly settled in Britain and was nearly 1 million years ago. The Bronze Age followed the Stone Age and began around 4000 years ago. The Iron Age followed the Bronze Age and began around 3000 years ago.
What is the Iron Age?
The Iron Age is the final epoch of the three-age division of the prehistory and protohistory of humanity. It was preceded by the Bronze Age and the Stone Age ( Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic, and Chalcolithic ). The concept has been mostly applied to Europe and the Ancient Near East, but also, by analogy, to other parts of the Old World .
How did the Iron Age begin?
The "Iron Age" begins locally when the production of iron or steel has advanced to the point where iron tools and weapons replace their bronze equivalents in common use . For example, Tutankhamun's meteoric iron dagger comes from the Bronze Age. In the Ancient Near East, this transition took place in the wake of the so-called Bronze Age collapse, in the 12th century BC. The technology soon spread throughout the Mediterranean Basin region and to South Asia. Its further spread to Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and Central Europe is somewhat delayed, and Northern Europe was not reached until later, by about 500 BC.
What is the iron in Egyptian tombs?
The explanation of this would seem to be that the relics are in most cases the paraphernalia of tombs, the funeral vessels and vases, and iron being considered an impure metal by the ancient Egyptians it was never used in their manufacture of these or for any religious purposes. It was attributed to Seth, the spirit of evil who according to Egyptian tradition governed the central deserts of Africa. In the Black Pyramid of Abusir, dating before 2000 BC, Gaston Maspero found some pieces of iron. In the funeral text of Pepi I, the metal is mentioned. A sword bearing the name of pharaoh Merneptah as well as a battle axe with an iron blade and gold-decorated bronze shaft were both found in the excavation of Ugarit. A dagger with an iron blade found in Tutankhamun's tomb, 13th century BC, was recently examined and found to be of meteoric origin.
What is the melting point of iron?
Whilst terrestrial iron is naturally abundant, its high melting point of 1,538 °C (2,800 °F) placed it out of reach of common use until the end of the second millennium BC. Tin's low melting point of 231.9 °C (449.4 °F) and copper's relatively moderate melting point of 1,085 °C (1,985 °F) placed them within the capabilities of the Neolithic pottery kilns, which date back to 6000 BC and were able to produce temperatures greater than 900 °C (1,650 °F). In addition to specially designed furnaces, ancient iron production needed to develop complex procedures for the removal of impurities, the regulation of the admixture of carbon, and for hot-working to achieve a useful balance of hardness and strength in steel .
What is the name of the metal that was used in the Bronze Age?
Meteoric iron, a characteristic iron–nickel alloy, was used by various ancient peoples thousands of years before the Iron Age. Such iron, being in its native metallic state, required no smelting of ores. Smelted iron appears sporadically in the archeological record from the middle Bronze Age.
What were the characteristics of the Iron Age?
The characteristic of an Iron Age culture is the mass production of tools and weapons made from steel, typically alloys with a carbon content between approximately 0.30% and 1.2% by weight.
What is the oldest known Iron Age statue?
Rough Three-age system timeline for the Ancient Near East; consult particular article for details. The Warrior of Hirschlanden (German: Krieger von Hirschlanden ), a statue of a nude ithyphallic warrior made of sandstone, the oldest known Iron Age life-size anthropomorphic statue north of the Alps.
What was the Iron Age?
The European Iron Age (~800-51 BC) is what archaeologists have called that period of time in Europe when the development of complex urban societies was spurred by intensive manufacturing of bronze and iron, and extensive trading in and out of the Mediterranean basin. At the time, Greece was flourishing, and the Greeks saw an explicit division ...
What was the early part of the Iron Age called?
The early part of the Iron Age is called the Hallstatt culture, and it was during this time in central Europe that elite chiefs rose in power, perhaps as a direct result of their connections to the Mediterranean Iron Age of classical Greece and the Etruscans. Hallstatt chiefs built or rebuilt a handful of hillforts in eastern France ...
How did the La Tène culture grow?
The La Tène culture grew in power and wealth because of their location on important trade routes used by the Mediterranean Greeks and Romans to acquire status goods.
What led to the growth of an elite class in the hillforts of central Europe?
Some scholars have argued that it was Mediterranean demand for exotic goods that drove the interaction and led to the growth of an elite class in the hillforts of central Europe. Hillforts--fortified settlements located on the tops of hills above Europe's major rivers--became numerous during the early Iron Age, and many of them do show the presence of Mediterranean goods.
What were the main items that people made during the Iron Age?
Most communities manufactured their own goods for trade or use, including pottery, beer, iron tools, weapons, and ornaments.
What animals were used in the Iron Age?
Domesticated cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs were used by Iron Age people; different parts of Europe relied on different suites of animals and crops, and many places supplemented their diets with wild game and fish and nuts, berries and fruit. The first barley beer was produced. Villages were small, usually under a hundred people in residence, ...
What were the lifestyles of the Iron Age?
Lifestyles of the Iron Age. By ca 800 BC, most of the people in northern and western Europe were in farming communities, including the essential grain crops of wheat , barley, rye, oats, lentils, peas, and beans. Domesticated cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs were used by Iron Age people; different parts of Europe relied on different suites ...
What was the significance of Solomon's reign?
The reign of Solomon (mid-10th century) represents the culmination of Israelite political history. Though Solomon gradually lost control over outlying territories conquered by David, he was extraordinarily successful in organizing the economic life of the country.
Who was the sole heir of David and Solomon's legacy?
Assyrian and Babylonian rule. Judah was left the sole heir of the legacy of David and Solomon. Hezekiah ( c. 715– c. 686 bce ), lured by promises of Egyptian aid, attempted to resist Assyria but was defeated and compelled to pay a crushing tribute.
What is the most famous period of Israelite history?
The best-known phase of Israelite history is the period during which the great prophets, Elijah and Elisha, flourished, under the Omrides of the 9th century. Omri himself, founder of the dynasty, selected Samaria as his capital and began constructing elaborate defenses and royal buildings, which have been uncovered by excavations. His son Ahab was alternately hero and villain of the principal stories of the prophets; he became involved in complex international maneuvers, which ended with his ignominious death at Ramoth-Gilead. The dynasty of Omri ended amid torrents of blood ( c. 841 bce ); it was followed by the dynasty of Jehu, which lasted nearly a century. This was a period of extreme oscillations, from the catastrophic defeat of Israel ( c. 815 bce) and the destruction of its army by Hazael, king of Damascus, to the triumphs of Jeroboam II ( c. 786–746 bce ). Meanwhile, Judah also oscillated between periods of prosperity and weakness; when it was strong, it controlled Edom and the caravan routes of the south from Midian to the Mediterranean; when it was feeble, it shrank behind its own narrow boundaries. Great kings such as Asa, Jehoshaphat, and Uzziah alternated with weak kings.
What happened to Assyria in 612?
Assyria was rapidly declining in power, and in 612 its hated capital, Nineveh, was destroyed by the Medes. Josiah’s successful rebellion ended when he fell in battle against a more powerful contender for the Assyrian succession, Necho of Egypt. Meanwhile, the Chaldean kings of Babylonia were rapidly gaining strength.
What were the things that people did in the Iron Age?
Iron Age farmers grew crops and vegetables. They kept geese, goats and pigs and had large herds of cows and flocks of sheep. Some people worked as potters, carpenters and metalworkers. Men and boys trained as warriors.
What was life like in an Iron Age hill fort?
By the end of the Iron Age many people lived in hill forts. The forts were surrounded by walls and ditches and warriors defended their people from enemy attacks.
Why did people live in hill forts?
Many people lived in hill forts to keep safe from attacks. During the Iron Age, the Celtic people spread out across Europe and many settled in Britain. The ancient Britons followed a Celtic way of life. They produced fine metalwork and enjoyed feasting, music and poetry.
How did iron tools impact the world?
This discovery had a dramatic impact on everyday life. Iron tools made farming much easier than before and settlements grew in size.
Where was the Battersea shield found?
The Battersea shield was found in the River Thames. It was almost certainly thrown into the river as an offering to the spirits. Thousands of precious offerings have been found in British lakes, rivers and bogs.
When Was The Iron Age?
Greek Dark Ages
- Greece had become a major hub of activity and culture on the Mediterranean during the late Bronze Age. The Mycenaean civilization was rich in material wealth from trade. Mycenaeans built large palaces and a society with strict class hierarchy. But around 1200 B.C. Mycenaean Greece collapsed. Greece entered a period of turmoil sometimes called the Greek Dark Ages. Archaeol…
Persian Empire
- During the Iron Age in the Near East, nomadic pastoralists who raised sheep, goats and cattle on the Iranian plateau began to develop a state that would become known as Persia. The Persians established their empire at a time after humans had learned to make steel. Steel weapons were sharper and stronger than earlier bronze or stone weapons. The ancient Persians also fought o…
Iron Age in Europe
- Life in Iron Age Europe was primarily rural and agricultural. Iron tools made farming easier. Celtslived across most of Europe during the Iron Age. The Celts were a collection of tribes with origins in central Europe. They lived in small communities or clans and shared a similar language, religious beliefs, traditions and culture. It’s believed that Celtic culture started to evolve as early …
Bog Bodies
- Hundreds of bog bodiesdating back to the Iron Age have been discovered across Northern Europe. Bog bodies are corpses that have been naturally mummified or preserved in peat bogs. Examples of Iron Age bog bodies include the Tollund Man, found in Denmark, and the Gallagh Man from Ireland. The mysterious bog bodies appear to have at least one thing in common: The…
Sources
- Greek Dark Age; Ancient History Encyclopedia. Overview; Iron Age, 800 BC - AD 43; BBC. Bog Bodies of the Iron Age; PBS.
Overview
The Iron Age is the final epoch of the three-age division of the prehistory and protohistory of humanity. It was preceded by the Stone Age (Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic), and the Bronze Age (Chalcolithic). The concept has been mostly applied to Europe and the Ancient Near East, but also, by analogy, to other parts of the Old World.
The duration of the Iron Age varies depending on the region under consideration. It is defined b…
Asia
The Iron Age in Central Asia began when iron objects appear among the Indo-European Saka in present-day Xinjiang (China) between the 10th century BC and the 7th century BC, such as those found at the cemetery site of Chawuhukou.
The Pazyryk culture is an Iron Age archaeological culture (c. 6th to 3rd centuries BC) identified by excavated artifacts and mummified humans found in the Siber…
History of the concept
The three-age system was introduced in the first half of the 19th century for the archaeology of Europe in particular, and by the later 19th century expanded to the archaeology of the Ancient Near East. Its name harks back to the mythological "Ages of Man" of Hesiod. As an archaeological era, it was first introduced for Scandinavia by Christian Jürgensen Thomsen in the 1830s. By the 1860s, it was embraced as a useful division of the "earliest history of mankind" in general and be…
Chronology
Increasingly the Iron Age in Europe is being seen as a part of the Bronze Age collapse in the ancient Near East, in ancient India (with the post-Rigvedic Vedic civilization), ancient Iran, and ancient Greece (with the Greek Dark Ages). In other regions of Europe the Iron Age began in the 8th century BC in Central Europe and the 6th century BC in Northern Europe. The Near Eastern Iron Age is divided i…
Early ferrous metallurgy
The earliest-known iron artifacts are nine small beads dated to 3200 BC, which were found in burials at Gerzeh, Lower Egypt. They have been identified as meteoric iron shaped by careful hammering. Meteoric iron, a characteristic iron–nickel alloy, was used by various ancient peoples thousands of years before the Iron Age. Such iron, being in its native metallic state, required no smelting of ores.
Ancient Near East
The Iron Age in the Ancient Near East is believed to have begun with the discovery of iron smelting and smithing techniques in Anatolia or the Caucasus and Balkans in the late 2nd millennium BC (c. 1300 BC). The earliest bloomery smelting of iron is found at Tell Hammeh, Jordan around 930 BC ( C dating).
The Early Iron Age in the Caucasus area is conventionally divided into two periods, Early Iron I, …
Europe
In Europe, the Iron Age is the last stage of prehistoric Europe and the first of the protohistoric periods, which initially means descriptions of a particular area by Greek and Roman writers. For much of Europe, the period came to an abrupt local end after conquest by the Romans, though ironworking remained the dominant technology until recent times. Elsewhere it may last until the early ce…
Sub-Saharan Africa
In Sub-Saharan Africa, where there was no continent-wide universal Bronze Age, the use of iron immediately succeeded the use of stone. Metallurgy was characterized by the absence of a Bronze Age, and the transition from stone to iron in tool substances. Early evidence for iron technology in Sub-Saharan Africa can be found at sites such as KM2 and KM3 in northwest Tanzania and pa…
Chronology of The Iron Age
- 800 to 450 BC
The early part of the Iron Age is called the Hallstatt culture, and it was during this time in central Europe that elite chiefs rose in power, perhaps as a direct result of their connections to the Mediterranean Iron Age of classical Greece and the Etruscans. Hallstatt chiefs built or rebuilt a h… - 450 to 50 BC
Between 450 to 400 BC, the Hallstatt elite system collapsed, and power shifted to a new set of people, under what was at first more egalitarian society. The La Tène culture grew in power and wealth because of their location on important trade routes used by the Mediterranean Greeks an…
Lifestyles of The Iron Age
- By ca 800 BC, most of the people in northern and western Europe were in farming communities, including the essential grain crops of wheat, barley, rye, oats, lentils, peas, and beans. Domesticated cattle, sheep, goats, and pigswere used by Iron Age people; different parts of Europe relied on different suites of animals and crops, and many places supplemented their diet…
Social Change in The Iron Age
- By the late 6th century BC, construction had begun on fortresses on the tops of hills. Building within the Hallstatt hillforts was quite dense, with rectangular timber-framed buildings built close together. Below the hilltop (and outside the fortifications) lay extensive suburbs. Cemeteries had monumental mounds with exceptionally rich graves indicating social stratification. The collapse o…
Sources
- Beck CW, Greenlie J, Diamond MP, Macchiarulo AM, Hannenberg AA, and Hauck MS. 1978. The chemical identification of baltic amber at the Celtic oppidum Staré Hradisko in Moravia. Journal of Archaeolo...
- Bujnal J. 1991. Approach to the study of the Late Hallstatt and Early La Tène periods in eastern parts of Central Europe: results from comparative classification of 'Knickwandschale'.…
- Beck CW, Greenlie J, Diamond MP, Macchiarulo AM, Hannenberg AA, and Hauck MS. 1978. The chemical identification of baltic amber at the Celtic oppidum Staré Hradisko in Moravia. Journal of Archaeolo...
- Bujnal J. 1991. Approach to the study of the Late Hallstatt and Early La Tène periods in eastern parts of Central Europe: results from comparative classification of 'Knickwandschale'. Antiquity65:3...
- Cunliffe B. 2008. The Three Hundred Years that Changed the World: 800-500 BC. Chapter 9 in Europe Between the Oceans. Themes and Variations: 9000 BC-AD 1000.New Haven: Yale University Press. p, 270...
- Hummler M. 2007. Bridging the gap at La Tène. Antiquity81:1067-1070.
