Copper was almost certainly the first metal to be used by humans; as it is such an unreactive chemical that it is one of the few metals that occurs naturally in its pure state. It is also very soft and malleable and so relatively easy to work into tools and weapons. When combined with another metallic element – tin – copper forms the alloy bronze; when combined with zinc it forms brass. Iron is, perhaps surprisingly, the most abundant element on Earth, and the fourth-most abundant element in the rocks of Earth’s crust. Although more difficult to extract and work with than bronze, iron is an excellent material for weapons manufacture as it is harder and lasts longer than bronze.

Copper was almost certainly the first metal to
be used by humans; as it is such an unreactive chemical that it is one of the few metals that occurs naturally in its pure state. It is also very soft and
malleable and so relatively easy to work into tools and weapons. When combined with another metallic element – tin – copper forms the alloy bronze;
when combined with zinc it forms brass. Iron is, perhaps surprisingly, the most abundant element on Earth, and the fourth-most abundant element in the
rocks of Earth’s crust. Although more difficult to extract and work with than bronze, iron is an excellent material for weapons manufacture as it is harder
and lasts longer than bronze.