Archive for the ‘The Copper/Bronze Age’ Category
This is the period in develepment of technology when metals were
first used regularly in the manufacture of tools and weapons.
Scientists also believe that about 5,000 BCE, these Ancient peoples
had spread to India, the river valleys of Central and Southern
Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.
Pure copper and bronze, an alloy of copper and tim were used
randomly in the begining; this early period is called the Copper
age.
The earliest use of cast metal can be deduced from clay models of
weapons; casting was certinaly established in the middle East by
3500 BCE following the Neolithic period. With the rise of
urbaniziation came metallurgical industry. The operations of
mining, smelting, and casting most likely required the
specialization of labor and the production of surplus food to
support the artisians, while searching for raw materials brought on
the exploration and colonization of new territories. This lead to
the building of Mesopotamia and Sumer.
Scientists believe smelting was creating around 4,000 BCE and that
they were spinning wool during this era. It is also apparent that
they were building dikes and canals, and using rivers as roadways.
They were making the transition from Nomadic Hunter Gatherers to
settled farmers.
The coming of the Minoan and the Mycenaen civilizations opened
extensive trade routes in central Europe where tin and copper were
mined. This fostered native industries and political unification,
specifically in Hungary, Austria and the Alpine region.
The earliest bronze in the New World was cast in Bolivia around
1100 CE. The Inca civilization used bronze tools and weapons but
never mastered iron.
The Bronze age laid the foundation of the Iron age, which was
influenced under the Etruscan, Greek and Scythian
civilizations.
Using the history for a campaign
Weaps: (In addition to the items from the other
era.)Axe and mace heads, daggers in copper.
Dwellings: Dwellings are built out of large
basalt stones, stone-slab paving, fieldstones, and wood. They are
usually one room dwellings.
Diet: Yeasted breads, Meats, Fish, Wild Game,
Dairy products that also included cheese and butters, Fruits and
Grains, Vegetables, Olive Oil, Seasonings and Spices, Wines and
meade. Olives from the trees.
Clothing: There is no documented evidence of the
kind of clothing worn, but we are to assume that they wore wool
since they were spinning and weaving it at the time. I am sure furs
and leathers were continued to be used as they are today. Some
scientests think they also wore sandals and robes. Findings have
found primitive razors and other bobbles and trinkets. Lapis seems
to have been a favorite stone.
Tools and Equipment: (In addition to the items
from the other era.) Awls for working leather. Basketry, linen and
wool textiles. Shell, Bone, Ivory, flint, stone bobbins and loom
weights.
Health and Healing: The healing ways seem to be
the same as the earlier ages, cremetion is being done at this
time.
Bibliography: See V. G. Childe, The Prehistory of European Society
(1958, repr. 1962); J. W. Alsop, From the Silent Earth (1964); G.
Clark, World Prehistory: An Outline (2d ed. 1969); A. H. Jones,
Bronze Age Civilization (1975); B. Fell, Bronze-Age America
(1982).
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