GAMING THE WESTERN EUROPEAN BRONZE AGE THE RIDDLE OF BRONZE

The Sumerians, Egyptians, Hittites, Mycenaeans, and Babylonians kept written records in clay, or made inscribed monuments in stone. Although only a fraction of their records survive, there is enough to piece together a narrative (albeit one with holes). For much of Europe, we have no written records; nothing but the archaeology and some educated guesswork. That is the riddle that historians are grappling with.

By David Davies

Tin is a vital component in the production of bronze. Its addition to copper reduces the melting point of the metal. The resultant alloy is smoother, flows when liquid, and can be cast, and is denser when it solidifies, making for a much harder material than basic copper. To the average Bronze Age farmer, the smith must have been like a magician, turning rocks into amazing and gleaming objects. As metals go, tin is relatively rare in Europe and the Middle East. When the local supplies of tin in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East began to run out, new trade networks developed to seek out new sources. This, in turn, undoubtedly drove the development of European Bronze Age cultures. Trade contacts extended from Sweden to the Mediterranean. There are several…

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Wargames, Soldiers & Strategy (Digital) - 1 Issue, WSS 129

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