The economy of Iron Age Britain
Amongst the death and disruption of the various deities, religions and false beliefs, the Iron Age seems to have given rise to distinct behaviours along different regions. They had adjusted suitably to methods on how to dispose of dead bodies despite being against examples from other cultures. Cremation existed elsewhere whilst at the same time excarnation only happened when there was lack of burial evidence.
Before the Romans conquest, the Iron Age was home to many fearless warriors, drinkers and barbarians, now collectively known to Greek Romans as "Celts". They were a constant presence in Europe and other relative countries and interacted with the Mediterranean through trade and hostile encounters. Finally, non-literate Celts entered classical literature by means of military incursions.
Following the collapse of The Mycenaean palatial system, shortages of bronze at the beginning of the Iron Age in the Mediterranean is currently explained. Evidence has been proved by the discovery of buried hoards resulting to control the supply of material. Bronze vanished being replaced by a rare metal called iron, mainly used for decoration, but lately it has been used as a "working metal" and has remained so for a long time.
The rise of the Assyrian and Phoenician empires (also known as the West Asian Economy) created a new economic boom in the West Asia and trades links developed and created trading posts all over the Mediterranean. They sold glass beads and perfumes, pepper and cinnamon in exchange for silver, slaves, wood and furs. Swords and daggers created by natives were imported, although by the mid sixth century, the volume of goods arriving due to more profitable centres evolving in the Mediterranean has been reported. On behalf of diplomatic conflicts described in the early period of Iron Age, exportation of British weapons was legalised throughout the continent. Assyrians were active traders, they traded with Etruscans, Romans and Egyptians. They often acted as middlemen between India and Iran and the rest of West Asia.
During the late Bronze Age and early Iron Age, the use of coins that varied in size and weight were used for exchanging and used to barter goods. The first true coin took effect when small pellets of coins were struck with an emblem assuring its value and origin around 650 BC in western Anatolia. By 600 BC, a Lydian regal coin made up of electrum was adopted by Greeks until gold, silver and bronze were used for public and private commercial exchange throughout the Mediterranean.
Some research shows that pottery production and distribution in the Iron Age brought about by Megiddo group had also been used for trade in order to make wider observations on the economy. During this time, urban society re-emerged the pottery of Iron Age Cyprus and Cypriot Bronze Age and produced a standard range of shapes and wares, and as a result, the finished products were less colourful and often elaborately painted with geometric and figural motifs. They also adapted the "free field" compositions of graced juglets, jars, bowls and kraters that showed realistic and fantastic patterns. Decorations had also been developed with black and red designs once thought to have come from Phoenicia but now widely produced in Cyprus.
Original Authors: Phil Post
Edit Update Authors: M.Harris
Updated On: 24/07/2008
