Hittite Iron-making
Cesar
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The innovation of iron-making in the Fertile crescent was a remarkable innovation, it began in the year 1400 BCE. The Hittites needed another way to become stronger. Before these innovations were made, the Hittites used supplies and weapons made out of copper (Ancient Anatolia and the Hittites). Iron-making was made to improve durability on supplies and to enhance the economy (Pense).
This image shows some of the weapons made from iron.
This image shows some of the weapons made from iron.
How Was Iron Used and Made?
How Was Iron Used and Made?
Iron was found in rocks that contained iron-ore and then involved a process in turning the iron into something else (Mitch Williamson). First, the iron would be smelted using furnaces and coal to turn it into iron ore (Yahalom), this allows for the iron to be more hard since the iron would absorb carbon from the charcoal used (Hays). The last step includes shaping the metallic iron by hammering and reheating it unlike copper which was shaped by cold hammering (Hays). The supplies made in iron-making were mostly used to increase military power and to increase their economy as well.
What Impact Did Iron-Making Have on the Fertile Crescent?
What Impact Did Iron-Making Have on the Fertile Crescent?
The iron used in iron-making helped produce weapons that were more durable than copper weapons (The Hittites and Ancient Anatolia). The people making the weapons would carburize the iron enough which would make it more durable than copper (Pense). Only the Hittites were able to make weapons out of iron which meant other civilizations used copper weapons (Brooks). This had allowed them to gain advantages in their military. The Hittites were one of the only civilizations that knew how to use iron correctly which meant they had a monopoly on the iron industry (Hays). This had caused the demand for the iron supply to increase which allowed the Hittites to trade for other things for iron supplies (The Hittites:civilization and Empire,n,d). They would make trading routes in Asia, Egypt and Syria to trade with since they had control of most of the land in its region (Hays). This had helped boost their economy a lot compared to other civilizations in this time period.
How Did Iron-Making Impact Later Civilizations?
How Did Iron-Making Impact Later Civilizations?
The Hittites were one of the first pioneers of the Iron age. They were one of the first civilizations to use and make iron correctly (The Hittites and Ancient Anatolia). They were one of the first civilizations to utilize and convert iron supplies (The Iron Age). This led the Iron-age to begin in the year 1200 BCE. After 500 years, India and China started to utilize iron for farming supplies. Many other civilizations learned how to use iron like the Hittites or even better after they collapsed in the year 1200 BCE.
This image shows a Shang dynasty vessel that was made by Ancient china with iron-making processes.
What Made Iron-Making Historically Important?
What Made Iron-Making Historically Important?
Iron became better than copper supplies for its durability which led other civilizations to develop these supplies like the Hittites or even better (Sherry). The fertile crescent was able to trade their iron supplies in return for other supplies (Hays). This allowed for their ability to iron-making to spread to civilizations close to the fertile crescent (Hays). The spread of iron-making knowledge began to grow significantly during the iron-age after the pioneers of the iron age, the Hittites, had collapsed. It had also left advances in better quality and cheaper prices to start happening since iron was common to find.
Interested in additional information?
Interested in additional information?
knollmont.com- This website gives more information on why the Hittites used iron.
khanacademy.org- This website explains the history of how iron was melted.
classroom.synonym.com- This website gives more information about what the Hittites made using iron.
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