The Bronze Age

The Bronze Age came after the Stone Age, about 5,000 years ago. During this time, people learned how to mix copper and tin to make a metal called bronze. Bronze was much stronger than stone. It was used to make tools, weapons, and jewelry. This new metal changed how people lived and worked.

A New Metal

To make bronze, people had to dig up copper and tin from the ground. They heated the metals until they melted. Then they poured the hot liquid into molds to form the shape they wanted. Bronze swords, axes, and pots were stronger than stone ones. The people who made bronze items were highly respected.

A bronze tablet with writing from the Bronze Age long ago.
A bronze tablet with writing from the Bronze Age long ago. (Bjørn Christian Tørrissen / Wikimedia Commons)

Cities and Trade

During the Bronze Age, the first real cities grew up. Places like Egypt, Mesopotamia, and the Indus Valley had busy towns. People traded goods over long distances. Writing was also invented during this time. The Bronze Age was a time of big changes in how humans lived.

Fun Facts

  • The Bronze Age started around 3300 BCE in the Middle East.
  • Bronze mirrors were made by polishing bronze until it was shiny.
  • Ancient warriors wore bronze helmets for protection.

Did You Know?

The famous Trojan War from Greek stories is thought to have happened during the late Bronze Age.