|
The first metals to be smelted in Africa were lead, copper, and bronze in the fourth millennium BC.[18] Copper was smelted in Egypt during the predynastic period, and bronze came into use not long after 3000 BC at the latest[19] in Egypt and Nubia. Nubia was a major source of copper as well as gold.[citation needed] The use of gold and silver in Egypt dates back to the predynastic period.[20][21] In the Aïr Mountains, present-day Niger, copper was smelted independently of developments in the Nile valley between 3000 and 2500 BC. The process used was not well developed, indicating that it was not brought from outside the region; it became more mature by about 1500 BC.[21] By the 1st millennium BC, iron working had been introduced in northwestern Africa, Egypt, and Nubia.[22] In 670 BC, Nubians were pushed out of Egypt by Assyrians using iron weapons, after which the use of iron in the Nile valley became widespread. The theory of iron spreading to Sub-Saharan Africa via the Nubian city of Meroe is no longer widely accepted. Metalworking in West Africa has been dated as early as 2500 BC at Egaro west of the Termit in Niger, and iron working was practiced there by 1500 BCE.[23] In Central Africa, there is evidence that Iron working may have been practiced as early as the 3rd millennium BCE.[24] Iron smelting was developed in the area between Lake Chad and the African Great Lakes between 1000 and 600 BCE, long before it reached Egypt. Before 500 BCE, the Nok culture in the Jos Plateau was already smelting iron.[25][26] |
About us|Jobs|Help|Disclaimer|Advertising services|Contact us|Sign in|Website map|Search|
GMT+8, 2015-9-11 22:12 , Processed in 0.153272 second(s), 16 queries .
