The document summarizes the progression of metal ages from copper to bronze to iron. It discusses how metallurgy was discovered around 4000 BC and led to specialized metalworking. The Copper Age used the first metal, copper, which was fragile. The Bronze Age alloyed copper with tin to make tools and weapons that were stronger. The Iron Age saw even harder metals and more advanced techniques developed. Societies grew as agriculture and trade improved with the use of metal tools. Defensive settlements expanded and social differences increased during this transition between the major metal ages.

1. THE METAL AGE

2. Metallurgy was discovered around 4000 BC
Extraction of metals from ores ( rocks) for their treatment
THE METAL AGE
Copper Age
Bronze Age
Iron Age
Divided
into
Transition
from one age
to 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 qualities
more resistant objects.
Techniques more developed.

3. 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 wooden. Roof: 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 were conflicts and wars. They built walls to defend
settlements
-Villages grew
- Women took a background role in society
Natural
environment
Mild temperatures
Forest, more
animals and plants

4. Mineral smelted again
and

5. • 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 pottery was improved with
the use of the potter´s wheel
Transport

6. Mould

8. ART
MEGA= BIG LITHOS= STONE
Enormous stone blocks used as tombs and sanctuaries
Two types
Menhirs Large stones standing vertically on the floor
- Forming a circle: cromlech ( Stonehenge)
- Forming a line: alignment
Dolmens Several vertical stones supporting a horizontal stone

9. Alignments

10. Cromlech

11. Cromlech: Stonehenge

12. METAL AGE IN SPAIN
Chronology: From 3000 B.C approximately to 750 B.C
Main cultures
Millares Bell Beaker El Argar Talaiotic
- Location:
Almeria
-Characteristics:
•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
in the floor of
dwellings
-Location:
Balearic Islands
-Typical
constructions:
Taula
Naveta
Talaiot
- Copper Age -Bronze Age -Bronze Age

13. Chamber corridor
Millares village Los Millares
Bell beaker
walls
Tomb

14. El Argar

15. Talaiotic
Taula Naveta
Talaiot