History tells that people have formed the very backbone of human civilization andmodern life with iron and steel. The Hittites, who were able to artificially refine ironfor the first time in humanhistory, defeatedthe bronze-wielding Egyptians at the Battle ofKadesh. The steel technology enabled the Hittites torapidly expand their empire to match the Egyptiansin the competition for regional hegemonyaround the eastern Mediterranean Sea.Romans held hegemony over the Mediterraneanby taking advantage of the superiorityof their iron-clad troops, which defeated their enemiesacross the Mediterranean and all the wayto Britain. However, the military advantage provided by the steelstirrups allowed the Huns to drive westward,which gave a rise to an end tothe Western Roman Empire.
Steel has also changed human historyby influencing our thoughtsand philosophy. First of all, steelenriched Confucian philosophyin ancient China. Increaseduse of farming tools made of steelgreatly boosted agriculturalproductivity and the authority of kings or rulerswas weakened with the rise of a new social class. It was inevitable for the royalclass to employ a new philosophy, such as Confucianism, to protect theirpower. In the West, as improved steelmaking techniques increasedsteel supplies, production methodsevolved from workshop-based to factory-basedmass production which led to the emergence ofindustrial capitalism supported by new theories,particularly from the Scottish economist andmoral philosopher Adam Smith.
There are multitude of ways that iron and steelhave ensured the survival of humanity and otherliving creatures, as well as shaped our modernlifestyle and culture.Recalling the magnetic field created by the coreof iron within the Earth, also known as the Van AllenBelt, it protects people from lethal solar winds. There are diverse applicationsof steel that ensure safe and convenient living:transportation, pipelines, bridges, transformers,musical instruments, and so much more. Steel technology has also been a major contributorto extending human longevity. For instance,steel pipes have replaced copper to conveyclean water.
Improved steel technology is continuously adoptedin steel products for safer and cleaner usein our water systems, oil and gas pipelines, andelectricity transmission. At the same time, specializedsteel products have become the core materialsfor renewable energy production such assolar, wind, and tidal power generation. In addition, strong and reinforced steel is fundamentalin optimizing the use of urban spacethrough super-towers and other skyscrapers,and also for disaster prevention in the form oftsunami protection walls. Steel products continue to foster exciting innovationsin critical areas such as mitigating theimpact of global warming, helping the disabledrecover mobility, and improving the protectivequalities of military equipment. The current civilization has been blessed withthe fruits of rapid industrialization and emergenceof IT technology. Nevertheless, the Age ofSteel is an ongoing phase as steel is the enablerof such remarkable advances.