Blacksmiths wouldnt have dealt with either material , the ‘black’ refers to the colour of wrought iron (though they also dealt with steel)
Coppersmiths dealt with copper, coukd also be just a Smith or Metalsmith to keep it ambiguous.
MrS0bek on
When bronze and iron are in equal supply bronze is indeed the far better material. Much easier to work with, more ressistant against oxidation, able to produce 100th of pieces in a single day. It isn’t even that much weaker than iron (though it is softer than steel). Contrary to iron which is hard to work with and needs to be hammered into shape. And of a bronze tool broke, just smelt it and use it agsin. If an iron tool broke its largley ruined.
Indeed what ancient cultures could do with bronze, we could only do in the 1860+, such as pouring liquid metal in a form. Hence bells and cannons were made from bronze til the Napoleons times.
In this many metalurgist of bronze age cultures likley had the know-how to make iron tools, but likley it was seen as not worth the effort as bronze was so much better.
However when the tin and copper trade routes collapsed both materials, which are by default rare, became much harder to get. Iron was everywhere by comparision and thus was picked up as a replacement
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I do like a pun
Blacksmiths wouldnt have dealt with either material , the ‘black’ refers to the colour of wrought iron (though they also dealt with steel)
Coppersmiths dealt with copper, coukd also be just a Smith or Metalsmith to keep it ambiguous.
When bronze and iron are in equal supply bronze is indeed the far better material. Much easier to work with, more ressistant against oxidation, able to produce 100th of pieces in a single day. It isn’t even that much weaker than iron (though it is softer than steel). Contrary to iron which is hard to work with and needs to be hammered into shape. And of a bronze tool broke, just smelt it and use it agsin. If an iron tool broke its largley ruined.
Indeed what ancient cultures could do with bronze, we could only do in the 1860+, such as pouring liquid metal in a form. Hence bells and cannons were made from bronze til the Napoleons times.
In this many metalurgist of bronze age cultures likley had the know-how to make iron tools, but likley it was seen as not worth the effort as bronze was so much better.
However when the tin and copper trade routes collapsed both materials, which are by default rare, became much harder to get. Iron was everywhere by comparision and thus was picked up as a replacement
Meme’s right. Sub’s not.