This sort of regulation meant that there was a focus on formalizing the trade and preserving it. The existence of the guild helps show how important blacksmiths were to society at this point in world history. Guilds also regulated materials as well as how many blacksmith apprentices were allowed. Trade guilds, run by the master blacksmiths, laid out rules and punishments for revealing anything to those who were not members of the guild. They harshly guarded the secrets of their trade. In the Middle Ages, the remaining air of mystery around the profession was often created by the blacksmiths themselves. The "farrier" specialized in making and fitting horseshoes, and "chainsmiths" and "nailsmiths" specialized in the tools that gave them their names. "Whitesmiths" were craftsmen who worked with lead. This is also the period when more blacksmiths began to specialize. They were indispensible in making tools that other members of the village couldn't live without. Everyone had the " village smithy," and blacksmiths were revered for their technical understanding of steel.īlacksmiths were respected because they created all manners of necessary goods: farming implements, household objects, weapons, armor. The medieval period of world history is when blacksmiths began to become essential members of their small towns. Some were thought to have magical or spiritual powers, and they often carried an air of mysticism. Steel weapons were quite powerful and often handed down through generations. Steel is a combination of iron ore and carbon, which early smiths found in the charcoal they used to start their fires. Occasionally, these early forgers of blacksmith history would make steel. Because blacksmiths could more easily control these fires, they were able to produce more accurate work on more complex items. It burned hot and for longer periods of time. Although they had difficulties nailing down the best techniques for working with iron, they did discover two crucial developments in blacksmithing: charcoal and steel.Įarly smiths found that charcoal produced a better fire. Some were too soft to a hold a sharp edge, and others were too brittle and broke. These discoveries helped blacksmithing cement its place in world history.Īncient understandings of iron were crude, and so many of the tools and weapons they produced were inconsistent. This substance was perfect for making simple tools tougher than those made from stone. It was discovered that by reducing natural iron ore with heat, it was possible to produce wrought iron. In these early years, many ancient cultures linked blacksmithing with supernatural superstitions. With greater technological developments at the start of the Iron Age, however, these mythical beliefs began to fade. When the Hittites were scattered, their knowledge of metalwork spread with them. The Hittites discovered how to forge and temper iron ore. The first evidence of blacksmithing and iron working can be traced all the way back to 1500 B.C. Blacksmith History: The Origins & Early Years Read on to learn more about the history of blacksmithing, old west blacksmith work, and where we found our inspiration for Old West Iron. We've built our business on creating historical reproductions in the designs and style of our metalwork. These are the people who are keeping alive a craft that has centuries of rich and important history. Of that number, however, only about 10% do it professionally. Somewhere between 5,000 and 10,000 people in the United States still practice the craft of blacksmithing.
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