Building History with Bronze

Author: lawrencehalter | Posted: 23.05.2012

Bronze has been, and always will be, a major player in the course of human history. It was present in the earliest of times, as early as 2800 BC, and it is still in general usage up to this day. Bronze has been equated with the rise and fall of civilizations, with some even claiming that it is connected with civilization itself.

The very first human civilization to harness bronze came during the so-called ‘Bronze Age’. It came around to general use in the Middle East, particularly at Sumer, Ur, and Anatolia, a region which is a part of modern day Turkey. The discovery of bronze played a pivotal role in the rise of human civilization. It was more malleable than most metals available in that time, and bronze became ubiquitous as a suitable material found in every industry such as weaponry, building parts, and ornaments for home and fashion.

The abiding quality of bronze endures to this day, and its popularity since early times continues as many industries choose bronze for its versatility in practical applications and ornamentation. Bronze as a material is pervasive in sculptural art, construction, and in the manufacture of musical instruments. The metal has always been crafted into the making of bells, saxophones, cymbals, and tubas.

Medals for accolades for graduation, recognition of every kind, and such as the ones used in the Olympics are fabricated out of bronze. Bronze medals, to this day, are dispensed out to outstanding third placers in competitions everywhere. The 3,200 kg Bowling Green Bull in Wall Street is molded of pure bronze. Architectural bronze was assembled largely in the construction of cathedrals, most famously the bronze baldacchino (canopy) at the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Basilica. That bronze is found in art and industries is testament to the metal’s malleability, fashionability, and prominence.

Bronze’s high tolerance against rusting, commonly known as corrosion, has always been preferred for this metal’s strong tolerance against metal fatigue. A bronze plate, as opposed to a plain iron plate, will stand the test of corrosion better.

A bronze sheet will often serve two purposes. First, it can be left whole, and can be used for plating a roofless home, withstanding rain, the corrosive elements, and inclement weather. Secondly, it can be used for power lines. As a good conductor, bronze is often tapped as wire of choice for electrical cords and other power sources. For more information, visit historyworld.net, boston.com, and wikipedia.com.

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