Who introduced iron to Africa?
Key Takeaways: African Iron Age
The earliest iron artifacts in the world were beads made by the Egyptians about 5,000 years ago. The earliest smelting in sub-Saharan Africa dates to the 8th century BCE in Ethiopia.
Did Africans invent iron?
Africa south of the Sahara, it now seems, was home to a separate and independent invention of iron metallurgy … To sum up the available evidence, iron technology across much of sub-Saharan Africa has an African origin dating to before 1000 BCE.
Did Africa have the first Iron Age?
African sites are turning up dates as early as 2000-1200 BC. Modern archaeological evidence identifies the start of large-scale iron production in around 1200 BC, marking the end of the Bronze Age.
When was iron first used in Africa?
Some recent studies date the inception of iron metallurgy in Africa between 3,000 and 2,500 BCE. Evidence exists for earlier iron metallurgy in parts of Nigeria, Cameroon, and Central Africa, possibly from as early as around 2,000 BCE.
Where did Iron Works begin in Africa?
Iron smelting and forging technologies may have existed in West Africa among the Nok culture of Nigeria as early as the sixth century B.C. In the period from 1400 to 1600, iron technology appears to have been one of a series of fundamental social assets that facilitated the growth of significant centralized kingdoms in …
Does Africa have iron?
Iron ore production in Africa is dominated by South Africa, Mauritania and Algeria. Many countries possess iron ore deposits that are as yet untapped/unmined.
Which African country has iron?
The African countries in which iron ore production for export and local use is most prevalent are South Africa, Algeria and Mauritania. Morocco and Zimbabwe also produce ore, but only for local use. Many African countries have vast iron ore deposits that are not yet mined.
Where was iron smelting invented?
The development of iron smelting was traditionally attributed to the Hittites of Anatolia of the Late Bronze Age. It was believed that they maintained a monopoly on iron working, and that their empire had been based on that advantage.
What is smelting in Africa?
The Iron Age of Africa is generally considered to have taken place between 200 AD and 1000 AD when iron smelting was a practice. … The advantages of Iron are obvious, easier to cut trees with and easier to shave stone. In the 2nd millenium BC, it is believed that Western Asians invented the process of iron smelting.
Are we still in the Iron Age?
There are very few references to iron (σιδηρος) in Homer: this is the Bronze Age after all, or rather a tale of the Bronze Age. … Our current archaeological three-age system – Stone Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age – ends in the same place, and suggests that we haven’t yet left the iron age.
Who first discovered iron?
The ancient Hittites of Asia Minor, today’s Turkey, were the first to smelt iron from its ores around 1500 BC and this new, stronger, metal gave them economic and political power.
Did Africa have a Bronze Age?
Unlike Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa lacks a Bronze Age, a period in which softer metals, such as copper, were made into artifacts. In Sub-Saharan Africa there is a Stone Age and an Iron Age.
How did Iron change the world?
Iron made life a lot easier in those days, when just living to the age of 45 was a feat. … Iron farming tools, such as sickles and plough tips, made the process more efficient and allowed farmers to exploit tougher soils, try new crops and have more time for other activities.