The impact of ancient metallurgy and metal crafts in the Mediterranean region, mining in Anatolia, early iron metallurgy in North-Western Syria and precious metal production in ancient Egypt

This chapter will attempt to provide an overview of the ways in which the immensely complex knowledge of extractive metallurgy, melting, alloying and metal working has come into being in the ancient Mediterranean basin, thus progressively modifying the life and economy of humankind. A study of this magnitude embracing many of the countries that have created human civilisation cannot be treated in one chapter or in one volume; however, we will describe some relevant steps of the metallurgy diffusion in the Mediterranean basin from Anatolia to the Syrian-Palestinian coast including the Egyptian and Jordanian areas by giving importance both to historical-archaeological considerations and to the material evidence that discloses the relevant technological innovations. The technology of metallurgy is an aspect of technology as well as of history. Extractive metallurgy, in particular, which consists of mining, smelting and melting and metal working has had great influence on the political, social and economical history of humankind due to the continuous search for new metal sources and routes of trade, to the development and transfer of technological innovation and to military implications.