Iron Working
Curated by Dimitri
Curated by Dimitri
There are two different kinds of Ancient Iron: Meteoric (Space origin), and Terrestrial (Earth origin). On this presentation, Meteoric will be represented with (M) and Terrestrial with (T)
The Hittites were the first civilization that discovered Iron Working. They inhabited Anatolia (Asia Minor), and discovered one of the largest ancient sources of iron (T) . They incoperated Iron into their weapons and their daily lives. Iron helped the Hittites advance and evolve in the ancient world.
An Ancient carving of the Hittite army
Over time, other civilizations would discover and use iron. The Assyrians stole any iron weapons they could in their engagements with the Hittites. The Egyptians were found to have started smelting Iron (M) in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The Battle of Kadesh was a chariot battle
The first recorded usage of Hittite Iron being used for warfare was in the Battle of Kadesh. This battle was an engagement between the Hittites and the Egyptians. The Hittites did have a tactical advantage with their iron, though both sides claimed victory.
The effect Iron Working had on the world
The invention of Iron Working was monumental to the advancement of the ancient world. With out Iron, the ancient civilizations would've never gotten past the copper age, or they would have very later on. Even though Iron is used differently in the modern day than it had been in ancient times, one could never disregard the effect that it had on the world.