THE METAL AGE

1. THE METAL AGE

Metallurgy was discovered around 4000 BC

Extraction of metals from ores ( rocks) for their treatment

THE METAL AGE

Copper Age

Bronze Age

Iron Age

Dividedinto

Transition from one ageto another varies

First metal to be used, but it was fragile and cracked easily.

Alloy of copper and tin that was much more resistant.

Hard, extraordinary qualitiesmore resistant objects. Techniques more developed.

2. LIFE IN THE METAL AGE

Economy and society

What did people live from?

-Agriculture, livestock ( they had more developed tools made of metal: ploughs, hoes, etc) New products: cheese.

- Trade: exchange metals for other products.

Where did they live?- Settlements: located in high places and surrounded by palisades

- Dwellings characteristics circular o rectangular- walls: adobe or woodenRoof: branches and thatch

Beliefs-

Worshipped the forces of nature and gods

- Ceremonies

Society

- Greater specialization of labour ( new jobs: metal artisans)-Greater social differences ( possession of metal)

-There was conflict and war. They built walls to defend settlements

-Villages grew- Women took a back ground role in society

Natural environment

Mild temperaturesForest, more animals and

plants

SKILLS• Metal could be moulded into new

shapes and more durable tools.

• e.g: agriculture( hoes, sickles, ploughs) weapons( swords, spears, shields) tools ( knives, etc)Metalworking

• The invention of the wheel made transport easier carts

• Also it improved pottery with the use of the potter´s wheelTransport

ART

Megalithic monuments MEGA= BIG LITHOS= STONE

Enormous stone blocks used as tombs and sanctuaries

Two types

MenhirsLarge stones standing vertically on the floor - Forming a circle: cromlech ( Stonehenge)

- Forming a line: alignment

Dolmens Several vertical stones supporting a horizontal stone

Alignments

Cromlech

Cromlech: Stonehenge

METAL AGE IN SPAIN

Chronology: From 3000 B.C approximately to 750 B.C

Main cultures

Millares Bell Beaker El Argar Talaiotic

- Location: Almeria

-Characteristic

s:• Village with several walls,

circular dwellings. Necropolis:

Tombs with a corridor and

circular chamber

- Copper Age-Location: centre and

periphery of Spain

- Characteristic: Bell shaped

ceramics

-Location: Granada, Almeria

-Characteristic

:Buried their

deaths in vessels

-Location:Balearic Islands

-Typical constructions:

TaulaNavetaTalaiot

- Copper Age -Bronze Age -Bronze Age

Chamber corridor

Millares village Los Millares

Bell beaker

walls

Tomb

El Argar

Talaiotic

Taula Naveta

Talaiot