CHALCOLITHIC OR METAL AGE
The Neolithic or New Stone Age lasted until around 4000 BC
During this period, remarkable progress has been made by human
beings in the field of science, technology and culture in
general. The Neolithic village has its social unit, so it
is a rural civilization. He was replaced by the Chalcolithic
or Metal Age, which marked the inauguration of a civilization
or an urban civilization itself. She added to the self-reliance
of farmers in the villages of the New Stone Age. The cities
developed by the industry and trade, domestic and foreign.
Therefore, the revolution brought by the man at the age Chalcolithic
is called the urban revolution. The first phase of the Metal
Age, which is called the Copper Age lasted for a thousand
years between 4000 BC and 1000 BC During this period, urban
centers or cities actually emerged. The second phase is called
the Bronze Age. This lasted for 1000 years, between 3000 BC
And 2000 BC cities and towns appeared only in this age. The
third phase is called the Iron Age is separated from the Bronze
Age through a gap of time which is characterized as a dark
period. During these dark periods some Bronze Age civilization
disappeared or suffered from severe slump. It was during the
Iron Age, which began at the beginning of the previous period
milllemium BC urban civilization which came to be firmly established
and consolidated.
Copper-Bronze Age
Copper and Bronze Age, particularly copper age, was extremely
fruitful period in the history of mankind. In this period,
the man has succeeded to a large extent in its struggle for
a better life. In this period, especially in the first phase,
copper age, we find that man has learned to harness the power
of wind and oxen. He invented in smelting copper ore. He developed
a precise timetable solar. He himself equipped for urban life
and paved the way for a civilization that require writing,
calculation processes and measurement standards.
Metallurgy has been the major agent of change in copper, bronze age, as its
name suggests itself. For example, the use of copper metal
caused revolution. Bronze is only its alloy. Working on metals
has become possible because of the important discoveries,
namely that the copper when heated then melted could be expressed
in any form required. The copper could be produced by the
heating of some stones or earth with charcoal. Man realized
the superiority of metal on stone because it is launched and
fuses. These characteristics of metal released the artificer
of the restrictions imposed by the shape and size of bones
and stones. Metals plasticity of the mud potters and the hardness
of the stone and bone. Their malleability and ductility are
added virtues. The discoveries metals may have been a very
pleasant shock to the man
After the invention of the method of mixing, melting, casting
and shaping the copper, in rapid succession man discovered other
metals, such as tin and lead. He learned of their use for future
development. These innovations are extremely important because
exclusive dependence on pure copper would have a devastating
effect on a metallurgical progress. Copper is a very rare metal
because the copper deposits are distributed very low density
of the earth. Secondly, the temperature at which the copper
background is very high. Man felt need of a metal that has all
the merits of copper, but he did not need such a high temperature.
More importantly, it will be more economical than copper which
is rare metal. These needs have been responsible for the invention
of the bronze medal, which turned out to be, to the great delight
of man, stronger than copper. Thus, metals and metal products
replaced replaced slowly but surely stone tools. The second
important step has taken the man in the Copper, Bronze Age
is the mobilization of the power of nature. It is also a step
of great importance. The man began to be used as cattle and
oxen donkey, the first for plowing and carrying loads and
the latter solely for the transport of loads. For related
to the transport and communications. They were further revolutionized
by the use of another power, namely the wind. Man learned
the art of sailing. This greatly increased the coverage and
effectiveness of navigation. |
