History of Materials

Sustainability

9500 BCE

Sustainability is the ability to stay maintained by itself and/or at a certain rate. Sustainability is a vital part in the survival of the human race. It has to do with the quality life of the people. This includes the economic, social, and environmental cycles that help build up communities and give everyone a chance to live a productive, happy, and healthy life. Not just for the current generations, but for many in the future too.

Sustainability (Pt. 2) & the Importance of Invention

9500 BCE

We have to be able to learn and know how to utilize every material at our disposal. We have to be able to improve and move forward together as a society. Inventing new materials is one of the most important things humans can do. Imagine if we still used stones & wood to make everything. We make advancements every day and that definitely helps to keep ourselves as humans in a sustainable environment. We went from making knifes by hitting together to having all this new and changing technology!

The Stone Age

9300 BCE

The Stone Age was a prehistoric time period in which stone was used for almost anything and everything. It lasted about 3.4 million years. The Stone Age came to an end with the upcoming of metalworking.

Wood & Stone

9200 BCE

No heat was really needed to use these materials. People just used their hands or other pieces of wood/stone to carve and make these things. Wood & stone are natural materials that can be extracted from earth very easily. Wood was used for a lot of building. Made things like buckets, wheels, fences, etc. Stone was used to make tools like arrowheads, hammers, knives, anything sharp.

Fire

9000 BCE

There isn't an exact date as to when fire was discovered. Not even an exact estimate really, the range is anywhere from 750,000 years ago to 1 million years ago. Fire was used to make and help do many things. Fire was used to form tools, hunting and cutting meat, to keep warm, fend off predators, a light source, and by starting wildfires you increase land fertility and clear out large areas of trees and bushes

Clay & Low Temperature Ceramics

8000 BCE

Around 1900 degrees Fahrenheit is needed for early ceramics. Clay is a natural material made up of rock and soils. When it's wet it can be molded and shaped easily, when heated up or fired, it holds that shape and creates a strong material. Clay was used for bowls and things to store food, used for building as well. People would make clay bricks.

Kilns

8000 BCE

A thermally insulated chamber that can produce temperatures hot enough to turn clay into pottery or ceramic. Temperatures like 1600 - 2300 degrees Fahrenheit can be reached.

Bricks & High Temp Ceramic

4000 BCE

You need around 2300 degrees Fahrenheit for high temperature ceramics. Bricks are made from clay that is fired in a kiln at about 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. Bricks are used for building. Making things like walls, buildings, walkways.

The Bronze Age

3600 BCE

The Bronze Age is characterized by the mainstream use of bronze and characteristics of urban civilization. Bronze replaced stone in most instances. Bronze was better for tools, weapons, building, etc.

Bronze

3500 BCE

The melting point for bronze is about 1,742 degrees Fahrenheit. Consists primarily of copper. With bronze people could make things that were more durable. Bronze was used to make tools, weapons, armor, building materials, and to make decorations and art.

Copper

2800 BCE

The melting point for copper is 1,984 degrees Fahrenheit. A soft, ductile and very conductive metal. Copper was used to improve tools and weapons. Things were either made entirely of copper by melting and molding it or copper was added to other things.

The Iron Age

1300 BCE

The Iron Age was a time period where the dominant toolmaking material was iron. Iron basically replaced bronze, like bronze replaced stone. Iron was a better material to use. It was cheaper, easier, and lighter.

Iron

1300 BCE

The melting point for iron is 2,800 degrees Fahrenheit. Iron was cheaper and easier to get than bronze was. Iron also made better and stronger tools and weapons than bronze could have. For example, an iron knife would be way sharper and hold up longer than the bronze knife. Iron armor would be lighter than bronze armor. Iron was used for weapons, tools, cooking dishes, building (iron beams), protection, etc.

Steel

1200 BCE

The melting point of steel is around 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit. Steel is made from melted together wrought iron and cast iron. Steel made weapons, tools, armor, etc all stronger and sturdier. Each new material improves the quality of things made with it.