Iron Age |
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↑ Bronze Age |
Ancient Near East (1200 BC – 500 BC) India (1200 BC – 200 BC) Europe (1200 BC – 1 BC)
China (600 BC – 200 BC) Korea (400 BC – 400 AD) Japan (100 BC – 300 AD) Philippines (1000 BC – 200 AD) Vietnam (1000 BC – 630 AD) Sub-Saharan Africa (1000 BC – 800 AD) |
Axial Age |
↓ Ancient history |
Historiography |
Ancient Near East (1200 BC – 500 BC)
India (1200 BC – 200 BC)
Europe (1200 BC – 1 BC)
China (600 BC – 200 BC)
Korea (400 BC – 400 AD)
Japan (100 BC – 300 AD)
Philippines (1000 BC – 200 AD)
Vietnam (1000 BC – 630 AD)
Sub-Saharan Africa (1000 BC – 800 AD)
Axial Age
Classical antiquity
Zhou dynasty
Vedic period
Ancient barangays
Alphabetic writing
Metallurgy
In Europe, the Iron Age may be defined as including the last stages of the prehistoric period and the first of the proto-historic periods.Iron working was introduced to Europe in the late 11th century BC, probably from the Caucasus, and slowly spread northwards and westwards over the succeeding 500 years. The widespread use of the technology of iron was implemented in Europe simultaneously with Asia.
The Iron Age in Europe is characterized by an elaboration of designs in weapons, implements, and utensils. These are no longer cast but hammered into shape, and decoration is elaborate curvilinear rather than simple rectilinear; the forms and character of the ornamentation of the northern European weapons resembles in some respects Roman arms, while in other respects they are peculiar and evidently representative of northern art. The dead were buried in an extended position, whereas in the preceding Bronze Age cremation had been the rule.