The Copper-and-Bronze Age
The first metals known to man must have been those which can be found in a pure or rather pure state among the hard rocks of the earth's crust. These include gold, which is always found in a pure state, silver and copper. Metals which are found in a pure state are ready for working (heating and hammering). We say they are found "native". Early man needed tools and weapons. Gold is heavy and rather soft compared with stone, so that it could not be used for this purpose. Silver is harder, but still comparatively soft. Copper is harder still and can easily be provided with a cutting edge. It is also found in larger quantities than gold or silver and it seems likely that in Europe copper was the metal which was used most by early man. Why, then, do not we say that the Stone Age was followed by the Copper Age? The answer is that long before iron came into use someone discovered that copper may be made much harder if it is melted and mixed with tin. The resulting alloy is very hard and is known by the name of "bronze". Tools of this alloy do not easily wear away; many have been found in ancient burial places and though bronze weapons and tools did not replace copper ones everywhere, they were used very much. Therefore we usually say that the Stone Age was followed by the Bronze Age, though it would be more accurate to call it theCopper-and-Bronze Age.

The Iron Age
At a given moment man succeeded in extracting iron from its ores. This discovery brought the Copper-and-Bronze Age to an end. And as iron is much commoner than copper, this discovery meant a very important step forward on the way of human civilization.

A. Answer the following questions:

  1. What kind of weapons did man in the Stone Age use to defend himself?
  2. What did he soon learn?
  3. Where did he find these materials?
  4. What do you know about metals which are found in a pure state?
  5. Why did not early man use gold to make his weapons?
  6. Why did he use copper for this purpose?
  7. Give another reason!
  8. What did man soon discover?
  9. What do you call this alloy?
10. What do you know about bronze tools?
11. So by what age was the Stone Age followed?
12. What discovery brought this age to an end?

B. Translate the following sentences:

  1. De mens in het Stenen Tijdperk was niet te benijden.
  2. Hij gebruikte stenen wapens om zichzelf te verdedigen.
  3. Goud wordt altijd in zuivere toestand gevonden.
  4. Het wordt "in gedegen toestand" gevonden.
  5. Koper is veel harder dan goud of zilver.
  6. Daarom werd dit metaal veel gebruikt.
  7. De legering brons is nog veel harder dan
      koper.
  8. Bronzen gereedschappen slijten niet gemakkelijk af.
  9. Later slaagde de mens erin ijzer te maken.
10. Deze ontdekking was heel belangrijk.