Overview

Over a period of thousands of years, humans learned to identify, extract, blend, and shape metals into tools, ornaments, and weapons. The ability of metals to alter the wealth, power, and culture of societies is so profound that the Bronze Age and the Iron Age label distinct eras in human development. Metallurgy makes the current Information Age possible and continues to shape our lives.

Background

Metals have shaped history—magnifying our efforts, providing leisure time, and creating empires—because metals allow us to shape our environment like no other materials. Ironically, the first recognized metal, gold, is unchanging and nearly useless. Gold exists in an almost pure state in nature. It does not rust or corrode, and, undoubtedly, it gleamed out from rocks or streambeds, catching the attention of humans in prehistoric times. Gold can be easily shaped, but it is...