Troy: The Greek Myths Reimagined (Stephen Fry's Great Mythology #3)

by Stephen Fry

The periods of the prehistorical era are named according to the prevalent materials of those ages. The first and longest period (three million years at least) was the Stone Age. Then, around seven and a half thousand years ago, the first metallic age was entered when humankind learned the trick of smelting copper. With the addition of a little tin (and maybe some nickel, zinc, or arsenic if there was any to hand), the alloy bronze came into being a couple of thousand years later. Harder and stronger than its constituent metals, bronze could be fashioned into tools, weapons, armor, and ornaments. Another two thousand years or so after this, techniques were developed that allowed the mining and smelting of an even more versatile metal—iron. Stone Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age. There’s an argument that, since the late Industrial Revolution, we have been living in the Oil Age, and perhaps now—somewhat distressingly—the Plastic Age.