Use of Materials

It has been said that a scientific discovery is incomplete and immature until the technologist has found a practical application for it and 'improved the lot' of human beings. One of the essential requirements for any technological advance is the availability of the right materials. The importance of this is shown by the use of names such as Stone Age, Bronze Age and Iron Age for succesive cultures in ancient times.

(a) Stone Age:

In this period, dating from the earliest times recorded up to about 2500 BC, tools and weapons were made of stone. Clay was fired to make pottery, while the weaving of plant and animal fibres provided cloth, fishing nets and baskets.

When agriculture was developed, the settled existence required for tending crops and animals all the year round encouraged the building of permanent houses of wood and stone. Villages and towns grew up, requiring roads, drains, bridges and aqueducts. The resulting wealth of some communities led to envy among others and the need for town dwellers to construct fortifications for protection and to develop weapons technology.

(b) Bronze age:

The era began with the discovery around 2500 BC in eastern Europe that copper became harder and tougher when alloyed with tin to make bronze. The consequent advances in technology were, however, small compared with those of the Iron Age.

(c) Iron age:

Although iron farm implements were used in China for centuries before, it was not until about 1000 BC or so that iron came into widespread use in other parts of the world. Iron is one of the commonest metals in the earth's crust. It is extracted from its ore (iron bearing rock) by smelting.

More recently, in the 19th century, steel (an iron alloy) became the dominant material for making tools, utensils, machinery, bridges, ships, weapons, cars and many other items.

(d) Modern era:

The 20th century saw the arrival of plastics and composite materials which have opened up a whole range of possibilities.