Metals in the Ancient World

Worth its weight in gold, strong as iron, born with a silver spoon – all clichés, but certainly not empty phrases! Gold, silver, iron, copper and its alloys had major impacts not only on local and regional economies, but also on ritual, architecture, warfare, and nearly every other aspect of ancient (and modern) life. This course explores the significant social, cultural, and economic role of metals, particularly in the aptly named Bronze and Iron Ages, from ore extraction to production of objects.