Ep 2. Iron Men

Following the premiere episode of "Mankind: The Story of All of Us", the second episode titled "Iron Men" dives deep into the Iron Age to explore how it radically changed and shaped humanity. The Iron Age fundamentally transformed how early societies interacted with one another and revolutionized warfare in ways that we still see in modern warfare today.

The episode begins by taking viewers back in time to ancient Africa, where iron ore was first discovered and harnessed for weaponry and tools. Host Josh Brolin describes how skillful African ironworkers first created weapons that greatly expanded their power and influence over neighboring tribes. The show describes how iron ore was smelted, how it was combined with other materials, including carbon, and how its production spread to other regions.

Next, "Iron Men" moves to the Middle East to examine how the Hittite empire – one of the first to develop the use of iron weapons and exploit iron's strategic advantages – emerged. Viewers are transported back to the ancient city of Kadesh, where Egyptian pharaoh Ramses II and Hittite king Muwatalli II went to battle in one of the greatest military confrontations of the ancient world. The show examines the climactic battle, its outcome, and how it concluded the Bronze Age while heralding the start of the Iron Age.

The episode then turns its focus to China, where the Chinese began to develop their own unique form of iron usage and metalworking. As the episode explains, iron tools and farming implements spread rapidly across China during the Han Dynasty, which enabled farming to become more efficient and allowed for the production of agriculturally surpluses. The show goes on to explore how iron facilitated the growth of ancient China's economy and allowed for the expansion of their civilization.

In addition, "Iron Men" also examines how iron became a catalyst for cultural exchange and innovation. One of the most notable examples of this was the Silk Road trade network, which connected civilizations across the Eurasian landmass and allowed for the exchange of goods and ideas that benefitted cultures from Europe to Asia.

Furthermore, the episode's final segment delves into how ironweapons and the start of ironworking led to monumental changes in warfare, taking us to the Roman Empire. It explores how the Roman army used iron to leverage its power in battle, their tactics, and how they built infrastructure to move troops and resources, and how iron allowed them to extend their influence throughout the Mediterranean basin. The show also dives into the engineering marvels of the Roman empire, such as the Colosseum, Roman aqueducts, and Hadrian's wall, and how these structures illustrated the power of the iron civilization.

The episode concludes by highlighting the iron age’s legacy, including how iron has allowed societies to become more complex and advanced in numerous ways. With the end of the iron age, the episode illustrates how iron forging technologies would only continue to evolve, leading to new weapons, machinery, and innovations that advanced civilization.

In summary, "Iron Men" moves beyond the gritty details of ironworking to zoom on the broader impact of this technology and its relevance in human history. The episode successfully explores how the advent of iron reshaped agriculture, communication, warfare, trade, and countless aspects of human life. As a result, our understanding of iron has shed new light on how the fortunes of civilization changed over time, setting the foundation for present-day civilization.