Skip to main content

History of Man As Determined by The Prevailing Materials Technology of a Particular Era

Compiled by Abena Osei-Anane [5 min read]

The ages of materials technology - PC: pininterest.cl

Earth’s beginnings can be traced back 4.5 billion years ago, but human evolution only counts for a tiny speck of its history.

The pre-history period where there was no documentation of human activities roughly dates from about 2-5 million years ago to 600BC and is categorised in three archaeological periods: the Stone Age, Bronze Age and Iron Age. These periods are characterised by the prevailing Materials Technology present at a particular time.

STONE AGE
Getty images

The Stone Age was the first age and the longest, from 30,000BC to 3,000BC. This era was marked by the use of stones to make tools and weapons. During the paleolithic period, early humans lived in small caves and were mostly hunters. They used basic stone tools as well as stone axes for hunting birds and other wild animals. They were the first to leave behind art by carving small figurines from stones, bones and others.

During the Mesolithic period, humans used small stones polished and crafted with points and attached to bones or wools to serve as spears and arrows. They often lived near rivers and other water bodies. It was at this time that agriculture was introduced and led to more permanent settlements in villages.

Stone age tools - PC: vectorstock.com

Finally, during the Neolithic period which was the last period of the  Stone Age, ancient humans switched from hunting to agriculture through cultivation of plants and rearing of animals. They used polished axes and adzes made out of stone for ploughing and tilling the land and started to settle in plains.

BRONZE AGE
Bronze age - PC: www.idesign.wiki

The Bronze Age was the historical period characterised by the use of bronze and it lasted between 3,000BC and 1,200BC.

Advances in metal working were made as people began to make tools from bronze alloy which is a mixture of Copper and Tin.

It marks the first age humans used to work with metals. These harder metals replaced its stone predecessors and technology advances were made. It helped spark innovations including the ox-drain plow, the first writing systems and the wheel.

Different human societies entered the Bronze Age at different times.

Bronze age weapons - PC: researchgate.net

Civilisations in Greece started before 3,000BC, while the British Isles and China entered much later around 1900 BC and 1600BC respectively.

The Bronze Age ended around 1200 BC when humans began to forge an even stronger metal, Iron - which gave rise to the the Iron Age.

IRON AGE
Iron age - PC: lookandlearn.com

The Iron Age was the final epoch of the three age divisions of the pre-history and proto-history of humanity.

It was a period between 1200BC and 600BC. The discovery of ways to heat and forge Iron kicked off the Iron Age.

During this age, people started to make tools and weapons from Iron and Steel. Humans began to smelt Iron through the Bronze Age but saw it as an inferior metal because tools and weapons made from it weren’t as hard or durable as those made from bronze.

Iron age tools - PC: bbc.co.uk

The use of Iron became wide spread after people learnt how to make steel which was a much harder metal, by heating iron with carbon and also it was much easier to manufacture than bronze.

Along with mass production of steel tools and weapons, this age saw even further advances in architecture, agriculture and art.

Writing systems and written documentation including alphabets began to emerge, ushering in the early historical period which began the Modern age.

MODERN AGE
Modern age - PC: amazon.com

The Modern Age began after the middle age and still exists to today. The modern age has seen so many advances in technology through the use of smart materials.

These are materials which have properties that allow it to be controlled by external stimuli such as temperature, stress, light and many other factors.

These materials have helped tremendously in many fields such as agriculture, architecture, electronics, medicine among others.

 Smart materials are made from environmentally responsive hydrogens, polymer networks which are capable of retaining large amounts of water without altering their structure.

Smart material - PC: eitrawmaterials.eu

The modern age will continue to see more advancement in technology as the years go by through the discovery of more and better materials.

Without advancement in materials, there can't be advancement in technology and hence socio-economic development. Materials continue to play a crucial role in our lives and world.

Materials engineers apply principles in chemistry, physics and mathematics to materials, bringing about new and smarter products that advance our world.

Read Also: How the Quality of Local Cornmill Plates Affects The Health of Ghanaians

Comments

See Also

Alternate Building Materials Used in The Construction Industry

PC: theconstructor.org Alternate building materials are those which can be used economically by replacing the conventional building materials. Alternate building materials are made from waste products and thus they minimize environmental pollution. These alternate building materials can be used when they meet their respective specifications in the code of practice. Here are some novel construction materials and technology, with some briefly discussed: Aluminum Bitumen Materials Soil Conditioning Agents Tempered Glass Crumb Rubber Fiber Reinforced Polymer Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastics Bamboo reinforced plastics Ferro-cement Polyester Fibers ALUMINIUM sound-proof-aluminium-construction. PC: theconstructor.org More than 3000 commercialized applications. 35 percent aluminum produced is used in construction. Non-Corrosive. High durability and low maintenance. Can be alloyed. Ductile and malleable. Aesthetically attractive. Applications of Aluminum In...

When the Lass I was Loving for Years Finally said Yes!: Episode 3

Episode 3 (Final): The D-Day Presently, both of our families were aware of our relationship. Akos was an only daughter, but not an only child, as she had a brother who was as fine as herself. It seemed to me that fineness ran throughout the family--from dad to mum to children. Akos was much like her mother, and her brother, Yaw, who was older than her, took the form of her father. I had met Yaw a couple of times on campus, when he used to come visit her dear sister. As time elapsed, I became a family friend to the Sarpongs. The D-day finally arrived. I went to Akos’ residence to pick her up for our much anticipated Friday night time-out. Luckily for us it was a holiday, so we both had time to rest from the week’s busi-ness. Of course, holidays bring some delight to those whose weekly schedules are largely occupied by work or school--and without a doubt, the greater joy goes to our dear students. Operation Neptune  arrived at her residence in a black Chevrolet Cruze...

When the Lass I was Loving for Years Finally Said Yes!: Episode 2

Episode 2: Scaling Up Our Friendship It was on one occasion of a date at Chilly Bowl, in the first semester of my final year, that I asked if she would be my girlfriend. (The bond had become too strong to break, and I didn’t want to graduate 4-0, hahaha ). She was stunned at first, and I got stunned too. She asked me to give her some time to think it over. I gladly consented, but deep within I feared I would be bounced . As I patiently waited for my dear Akos to give me a favourable response, I would often get beset with mixed feelings. I told my roommate I had proposed to Akos. Kwao: Boy you for pray say she go accept oo. Me: What else chale. My love for her has transcended the skies. Kwao: You den your vibes. Me: No be small punch line oo chale. But e go source. After about two weeks since we last met at Chilly Bowl, I picked up my phone one Saturday evening to answer a call, and surprisingly, it was Akos. I hadn’t heard from after our recent date. We exchange...

Personality of The Week: Dr Frank Ofori Agyemang

Dr F.O. Agyemang, MATESA POTW Meet Dr Frank on this week's  Personality Dialogue show. He tells us about himself, shares his knowledge and experience with us. This is an exclusive, in-depth interview with the nanomaterials expert, deliberately enjoy the show to the very end. Who is Dr Frank Ofori Agyemang? I am from Jakobu, a town in Amansie Central district close to Ashanti Bekwai, Obuasi Road. I have a large family, with many step siblings. My dad passed away while I  was writing my PhD dissertation. I am married with a kid. Well done Doc Please tell us about your education. Growing up I have always loved to be an engineer. We were the first batch of WASSCE students (2006). I completed Kumasi Academy, popularly known as Kumaca. Before I applied for admission to KNUST, I read a lot about the programs I chose, including Materials Engineering though Pharmacy was my first choice. Before I chose MSE, a friend who was schooling outside introduced me to it, I th...

When The Lass I Was Loving for Years Finally Said Yes!: Episode 1

PC: Pinterest Episode 1: Getting Acquainted I sent her a text on WhatsApp, ‘‘Bae, we’ve got a date on Friday night at Sparkles .’’ I’m sure she would have thought it would be one of our usual rendezvous , where we would chit-chat all night long talking about ourselves, among other matters, and getting a bit amorous sometimes, hahaha . But behind the scenes, something spectacular was boiling . She sent a reply, ‘’OK boo. I’m anticipating and will prepare in advance. Love youuu.’’ ‘’Love you bunch,’’ I responded. I was also preparing ahead for this big day where I would pop the question to the love of my life. I couldn’t wait for that grand day--the D-day--to declare myself to my better half. You could imagine all the sponging  and grooming that would go in on my side; and on the other side too, well, I couldn’t really guess. ’’Anticipate’’ was the only option. Akos was a lovely and comely young woman. She was beautiful in every sense of the word. She was tall (I was tal...

Personality of The Week: Mr Ebo Quansah

Mr Ebo Quansah, Personality of The Week To  begin this month's Alumni Awareness session of the Personality Dialogue a former Teaching Assistant of the Department. He is an old student of GSTS in Takoradi. He tells us about himself and shares with us some knowledge and experience so far. Enjoy the read. Who is Mr Ebo Quansah?  Ebo-Quansah is the second born among five siblings. I was born and brought up in Manso-Wassa, where I had my basic education. I am that individual who is interested in researching into scientific problems. What was your experience like in secondary school? I had my Secondary school education at Ghana Senior High Technical School (GSTS). And you can attest to the fact that GSTS is one of the finest second cycle institutions in the country. Besides the quality of academic work, the high level of discipline the school instigates into its students really helped shape my life. For that I will always be proud of my alma mater. Talking of fond memorie...

Researchers Discover New Useful Nanostructure for Composite Material

Biwu Ma, professor of chemistry and biochemistry  Florida State University researchers have discovered a novel structure for organic-inorganic hybrid materials that shows potential for more efficient technologies. Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Biwu Ma, and his team have published a new study in the journal Science Advances, that explains how they created a hollow nanostructure for metal halide perovskites that would allow the material to emit a highly efficient blue light. Metal halide perovskites are materials that have shown great potential for photon-related technologies such as light-emitting diodes and lasers, but scientists have still been working to make them more efficient and effective. "The fabrication of new-generation color displays and solid-state lighting requires luminescent materials and devices of the three primary colors: red, green and blue (RGB)," Ma said. "Although multiple ways of color tuning have been demonstrated for perov...

Introduction to Glass Science and Technology

Technological History The presence of glasses in our everyday environment is so common that  we rarely notice their existence. Our current casual attitude toward the family of materials known as glasses has not always existed. Early Egyptians considered glasses as precious materials, as evidenced by the glass beads found in the tombs and golden death masks of ancient Pharaohs. The cave-dwellers of even earlier times relied on chipped pieces of obsidian , a natural volcanic glass, for tools and weapons, i. e., scrapers, knives, axes, and heads for spears and arrows. Humans have been producing glasses by melting of raw materials for thousands of years. Egyptian glasses date from at least 7000 B.C. Ancient Egyptian glass beads. PC: Science News How did the first production of artificial glasses occur? One scenario suggests the combination of sea salt (NaCl) and perhaps bones (CaO) present in the embers of a fire built on the sands (SiO 2 ) at the edge of a saltwat...
 Meet our personality of the week,our Immediate Past President Mr.Samuel Kweku Afari Can you tell us about yourself?   I am Samuel Kweku Afari, born on the 4th of March 1998. I am 23 years of age and I pride myself to be the only child of my parents. I come from Abesim in the Bono Region where I started the earlier part of my junior high education at Sacred Heart Preparatory School.  I moved to Tarkwa to continue my junior education at Golden Age School complex and that is where I had my Basic Education Certificate after completion in 2014. By God’s grace, I went on to have my senior high school education at St John’s School in Sekondi where I read General Science. Whilst in St. Johns School I served as the Sports Prefect (2016/2017). I completed St. Johns School in the year 2017 and by God’s grace had the opportunity to start my university education the same year at my dream university, KNUST.  I am currently in my final year reading BSc. Metallurgical Engineering a...

The Reason for The Season

Almighty, you could have snapped us into a blip to avenge for our unruly stubbornness and cruelty. You could have hypnotized us from the beginning of time to follow you with nothing called free will. No urge to disobey, steal or kill. But you chose to send your begotten son. In the beginning, you could have corrected sin and immorality yet allowed men to dwell in their carnality and later show them your sovereignty. Leaving His comfort zone, He came down to live as one of us. He was betrayed for a few denominations, chastised on several occasions but chose our salvation over condemnation. And for our sake He was condemned to death. To the wisdom of man, it was an improper fraction but to God a perfect solution.Though sinless and blameless, He bore the crossed burdened with our sins. Under the Heavy cross bathed in blood and sweat, he fell three times yet didn’t give up. He was poised to accomplish this mission of our salvation. Nailed to the cross, blood oozing from every part o...