10 Achievements of Mankind Made Possible by Economic Freedom
2. The Iron Age
The Iron Age is an archaeological term that indicates the condition of civilization and culture of people using iron as the material for their cutting tools and weapons. As the mankind was freed by the Agricultural Revolution from constant pursuit of food and survival mode, greater economic freedom gave rise to the development of metallurgy and the arrival of the Iron Age.
The Iron Age resulted in the widespread use of iron and steel. The adoption of these materials caused some other revolutionary changes in society such as the drastic improvement in tools and weapons, better agricultural techniques, changes in architecture, religious beliefs, and artistic styles.
The arrival of the Iron Age in Europe, North Africa, and Asia was characterized by certain forms of implements, weapons, personal ornaments, and pottery, and also by systems of decorative design, which were altogether different from those of the preceding Bronze Age. Metalsmithing expanded from the primitive form in the Bronze Age to include forging.
Sanskrit and Chinese literature flourished in the Iron Age. Other texts include the Avesta, the Indian Vedas, and the oldest parts of the Hebrew Bible. The principal feature that distinguishes the Iron Age from the preceding ages is the introduction of alphabetic characters, and the consequent development of written language which enabled literature and historic record.
