The Iron Age was a time in history after people began to use iron tools. Before this, they had used bronze or stone tools. Most of Europe, Africa and Asia reached the iron age by 500 BC. In Europe, it is a period of prehistory, because Iron Age people did not write their history down.

Iron is easy to find, but hard to make tools with. It melts at a higher temperature than bronze. The people who learned how to make iron tools were able to make many of them. This meant that people's behaviours changed. For example, more people could own a metal plough. They could farm their fields better and grow more crops. Some people invented coins to help buy and sell their crops and their iron tools. And of course, bronze weapons and armor were no match for those made out of iron, so many peoples who did not have iron were conquered by those who did.

Ancient history

Edá del Fierro | Yr Oes Haearn | Jernalder | Eisenzeit | Rauaaeg | Εποχή του Σιδήρου | Iron Age | Edad de Hierro | Ferepoko | Âge du fer | Idade de Ferro | 철기 시대 | Età del ferro | תקופת הברזל | Dzelzs laikmets | Geležies amžius | Iezertied | IJzertijd | 鉄器時代 | Jernalderen | Iesentiet | Epoka żelaza | Idade do Ferro | Железный век | Etati dû Ferru | Železna doba | Гвоздено доба | Rautakausi | Järnåldern | 铁器时代