Why bronze

Bronze is a historically significant metal to the development of human civilization. The low melting point of the tin and copper used to create bronze alloys allowed it to be worked on before iron was a feasible option. The hardness of bronze is also higher than wrought iron allowing better tools to be made. Tin and copper rarely being found in the same place also helped spur trade in early human civilization, particularly around the Mediterranean Sea.

As techniques for purifying iron ores developed bronze stopped being used as heavily in tools and weapons but remained a major part of life. Unlike tin, iron ore is readily available. So, although inferior to bronze, an army of hundreds or thousands could be equipped with iron weapons, which was not practical with bronze weapons.

So, the ability to produce large numbers of iron weapons overcame the advantages of bronze. Eventually, time and further development allowed for the production of these so-called legendary swords which supplanted bronze as the weapon material of choice for the nobility.

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What made bronze the first widely used non-ornamental metal in human civilization? Ask Question. Asked 6 years, 9 months ago. Active 6 years, 8 months ago. Viewed 8k times. Improve this question. Air 3, 4 4 gold badges 22 22 silver badges 46 46 bronze badges. James Jenkins James Jenkins 1, 2 2 gold badges 11 11 silver badges 22 22 bronze badges. On History you might learn about what the impacts to civilzation were. Here you would learn "Why" bronze was important rather than "How" it was important.

Engineering history is a subject that doesn't seem to receive much attention apart from saying "this is what they used to do, and now we do this Add a comment. Due to its corrosion resistance and unique coloring, bronze is commonly used in the manufacture of coins, hardware mounts, furniture trim, ceiling or wall panels, ship hardware, and all sorts of automobile parts. Maybe more than any other metal, bronze is used for artful forms of sculpture.

Bronze, in particular, has been the preferred metal for sculptures because of its ability to expand just before it sets. This property allows for the most intricate details to be brought to life. The bronze alloy commonly known as bell metal has long been the preferred choice of metal for bells and cymbals. This is largely because of its timbre and durability.