How did the availability of iron affect the number of metal tools people could use?

The widespread adoption of iron significantly increased the number of metal tools available to people because the metal is far more abundant than the copper and tin required to produce bronze.12

During the Bronze Age, the scarcity of metals limited tool production. In contrast, iron ore was widely distributed and often found in surface deposits that required minimal mining effort. This accessibility lifted previous limitations, allowing for the creation of a wider variety of implements and ensuring that even the poorer classes could eventually gain access to metal tools.2

Furthermore, the durability and recyclability of iron contributed to its prevalence. Because iron could be easily welded, worn-out tools were often repurposed by joining scrap metal into new blanks, a process that extended the utility of the material. As iron technology matured, it supplanted bronze, putting metal tools into more hands than ever before.21