Controlled Fire (c. 2,600,000 B.C.E.)

     

     Exclusive from (1001 Inventions That Changed the World) Book

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Blog No	2
Contain Type	The Ancient World
Invention	Controlled Fire
Year	c. 2,600,000 B.C.E.

Fire is an essential tool, control of which helped to start the human race on its path to civilization. The original source of fire was probably lightning, and for generation blazes ignited in this manner remained the only source of fire. Initially peeking man who lived around 500,000 B.C.E, was believed to be the earliest user of fire, but evidence uncovered in Kenya in 1981, and in South Africa 1988, suggests that the earliest controlled use of fire by hominids dates from about 1,420,000 years ago. Fires were kept alive permanently because of the difficulty of reigniting them, being allowed to burn by day & damped at night, flint struck against pyrites or friction method were the most widespread methods of producing fire among primitive people.

                          

                                                                      The first human being to control fire used it to keep warm, cook their food, and ward off predators. It also enabled them to survive in region previously too cold for human habitation. They also used it in “fire drivers” to force animals or enemies out of hiding. Controlled fire was important in clearing forest for roadways, grasslands for grazing, and agriculture lands – uncontrolled, the fire destroyed the potential of the soil. Mastering fire also opened up the possibilities of smelting metals, enabling humankind to escape the limitations of the Stone Age.

African Proverb -                                                                                                            

(“Seek wood already touched by fire. It is not then so very hard to set alight.”) 

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Hominids – A member of a family of primates which include humans & their fossil ancestors.                       

Pyrites – Shiny yellow mineral that is a compound of iron & sulphur. 

Posted in: The Ancient World