-3300 – bronze age
By allowing copper and tin to melt together and then solidify, an alloy known as bronze is formed. Bronze is harder than either of the original metals and will hold a sharp edge longer. It was first discovered and used in the Middle East. The ability to produce valuable objects made of metal and the demand created for metallic ore helped to promote trade and exploration. For the next several thousand years, bronze became the standard for metal working and metal objects.
PRECURSOR:
copper age
SUCCESSOR:
iron age
[...] SUCCESSOR: bronze age [...]
[...] PRECURSOR: bronze age [...]