1. The discovery of bronze marks the beginning of the age of technology. The Bronze Age (3500 BCE -1000 BCE)

2. Objectives Discover the meanings of the terms: ore, Discover the meanings of the terms: ore, smelting, urbanization and bartering smelting, urbanization and bartering learn how metals were thought to have been discovered learn how metals were thought to have been discovered learn of the advantages of metals over stone learn of the advantages of metals over stone learn of advances made during the Bronze Age learn of advances made during the Bronze Age

3. Bronze Age Terms: Ore: rocks that contain minerals or metals that can be recovered and sold at a profit recovered and sold at a profit Smelting: the process of removing metal from ore Urbanization: refers to the growth of cities due to the migration of people from rural areas to migration of people from rural areas to urban areas urban areas Barter: a system of trading one’s goods for the goods of another: occurred before the advent of money of another: occurred before the advent of money

4. How was it discovered? Questionable… Questionable… –4000 BCE: people observed bubbling substance coming from rocks, heated by campfires, cooled it, molded it…more durable than stone… COPPER

5. If Copper, Why the Bronze Age? Bronze = copper + tin Bronze = copper + tin Probably by accident Probably by accident Harder, more durable than copper Harder, more durable than copper About 3500BC About 3500BC Middle East Middle East

6. Advances during the Bronze Age Armies now had bronze armor and weapons Armies now had bronze armor and weapons Bronze tools helped farmers become more efficient Bronze tools helped farmers become more efficient Potter’s wheel invented Potter’s wheel invented Navigation improved Navigation improved Metal working new industry Metal working new industry Trading increased Trading increased Urbanization Urbanization Increase in world exploration (to find ore) Increase in world exploration (to find ore)

7. Potter’s Wheel The first evidence of the potter's wheel was found in Egyptian paintings. Pottery in Egypt was a skilled craft in the Early Bronze Age. Potters were revered members of society.

8. 1. Axe with slight flanges 6. Spade 11. Socketed axe 16. Hafted Iron knife 2. Socketed axe 7. Palstave 12. Socketed spear head 3. Socketed axe 8. Palstave 13. Socketed spear head 4. Palstave 9. Socketed axe 14. Ferrule of horn for a spear shaft 5. Palstave 10. Socketed axe 15. Axe of horn

9. Bronze Age Sickle

10. Bronze Age Pottery

11. Bronze Age weaponry and ornaments

12. Not everyone was keen on switching to bronze technology as they stuck with the technology they were familiar and comfortable with. (view “Bronze Orientation Day” video clip from memory stick)