The iron-age was the end of the Stone/Bronze age cycle and holds many inventions that

influence the way people lived and now live

The use/creation of Iron (700B.C.)
The process of casting iron involves mixing iron with carbon and other alloys, creating an iron
alloy that is more brittle, but also harder. Cast iron played a large role in Iron Age China’s
agricultural development. The moldboard plow that emerged in Iron Age China around the third
century B.C. used a cast-iron point to push soil away, allowing for the development of contour
plowing, which reduced erosion within soil.
How cast iron impacted the world
Economic Impact : The mass production of these iron tools met the local needs and
contributed to trade causing the economy to grow.
Cultural impact on society: I was unable to find any cultural impact on society.
Political impact on society: The use of cast iron gave military advantages with stronger, more
durable weapons.
Social impact of cast iron: I was unable to find any social impact for cast iron.
Pros and Cons of Cast Iron
Cons - Cast iron is heavy compared to other materials,which makes handling and transportation
challenging. Cast iron is also very susceptible to cracking if not quenching correctly.
Pros - Cast iron is great under compression which helps the durability for tools made out of it. It
also does not corrode like other metals which makes it amazing in any environment and
situation.

The Quern(400B.C.)
The rotary quern stone that was created in Iron Age Britain consisted of two stones on top of
each other. The top stone had a hole in it in which a person would pour in grain. They would
then rotate the top stone to grind the grain between the stones, and the ground grain would spill
out over the sides. Although the rotary quern stone took more time to make than other querns, it
​was able to produce grain way faster. Rotary querns were also used to grind corn, even as early
as 400 BC. A hole at the top in the upper stone was filled with grain. The stone was rotated to
produce coarse flour, which eventually spilled out between the two stones.
Economic Impact: The rotary quern had economic implications, as the increased efficiency in
grain processing could lead to surplus production. Surpluses could be traded or stored for times
of scarcity, contributing to economic development and trade in ancient societies.
Impact on Social Structure: The ability to produce more food more efficiently may have had an
impact on social structures. Large amounts allowed for the support of larger populations,
potentially leading to the development of more complex societies and structures.
Overall Technological Advancement: The rotary quern represented a technological
advancement in the processing of grains. This type of invention shows human innovation and a
desire to improve daily tasks, contributing to the advancement of ancient civilizations.
Cultural impact on society: I was unable to find any cultural impact on society.
Political impact on society: I also could not find any info on this.
Pros and cons of the rotary Quern
Cons - Although the rotary quern was an improvement to earlier methods, it still required
significant manual labor to operate, especially for grinding larger quantities of grain. The
constant rubbing of stones would cause them to become smooth which means it would need to
be replaced.

Pros - Compared to earlier grinding methods the rotary quern was easier to operate. The rotary
quern was also able to produce more grain than the older quern versions

Iron Moldboard plow

The moldboard plow created during the Iron Age revolutionized agriculture by making it easier
to prepare fields for planting( much like a hoe). Compared to earlier plowing methods that
involved simple digging or scratching of the soil, the moldboard plow enabled deeper and better
soil growth. This improved soils exposure to air, moisture retention, and nutrient distribution,
leading to increased crop yields and overall productivity.

Pros:
1. Makes soil better for plants to grow.
2. Helps keep soil healthy.
3. Gets rid of weed seeds.
4. Plants can grow deeper.
5. Makes planting faster.tg

Cons:
1. Hard work to use.
2. Can damage soil over time.
3. Might hurt helpful organisms.
4. Costs money to keep up.
5. Too much use can harm soil and creatures living in it.