The discovery of metals happened at different times in different parts of the world. The first place was the Fertile Cresent about 6500 years ago. Metal was first used in China about 3500 years ago.
The first metal to be used were gold an copper. Gold was very soft. It was used to make jewellery, cups, and plates. Copper is a little harder than gold. Spreadheads and other tools can be made from copper.
Metal tools were very expensive. Only rich people could buy them. Ordinary people used stone, bone and wood tools for thousands of years more.
About 5000 years ago people discovered how to mix melted copper and tin. This made a new metal called bronze. It is much harder than copper. Bronze was used to make better tools, weapons, pots and armour. More people could have metal tools. Bronze was the chief metal in the world for 2000 years. Then iron was discovered.
The Chinese learned about bronze from the people of Central Asia. They quickly became the best craftsmen in the world in bronze.
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