Q&A · 4:24:26-4:25:18

Did Romans use iron or steel?

Premodern societies could produce forms of steel, but material quality and manufacturing choices varied enough to shape different swordmaking methods.

European Swords Iron Japanese Swords Premodern Metallurgy Roman Military Steel Swordmaking

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Question

Did the Romans use iron rather than steel?

Short answer

They used steel of a kind, although its quality differed from modern steel.

Notes

Roman metal could be steel of a kind, despite differences from modern material. Japanese smiths repeatedly worked their stock to remove impurities, while European smiths had purer starting material and worked toward other qualities. In this comparison, differences in the metal help explain differences in swordmaking methods.