The History of Blacksmithing

Blacksmithing is a profession that has faded into obscurity over time. The only place you’re likely to see it now is in stories, movies, historical reenactments, and in some old villages. However, for a long time, blacksmithing was one of the most vital professions it the world. One could say that development and architecture relied heavily in the services of a blacksmith to move forward. A Boston blacksmith was long considered the king of all trades because of his ability to fashion his own tools.

The Early History

According to most speculations, the origins of blacksmithing dates back to about 1,500 BC. The first traces of it can be found in the land that’s now called Syria. Considering the fact that blacksmiths usually work with iron, the occupation began with the advent of the Iron Age. This is a period when humans started using crude tools made from iron. While the craft wasn’t as it would later be, it was still blacksmithing.

During the Iron Age, blacksmiths were held in very high regard in many places in the world. People with high skill were often awarded high social positions. Amongst the Ancient Greeks, the God Hephaestus was a blacksmith and his Roman version, Vulcan, was a blacksmith as well.

However, in some places, they were regarded as evil and accused of witchcraft. These professionals were punished if they were caught practicing the craft. In the middle ages, they were actually put to death. Most historians consider this the origin of the whole legend behind the Devil in the fiery pits of hell started.

Later Times

The prestige of the profession didn’t endure for long. People also stopped regarding the smith as someone evil. They became somewhat like a local hardware store, producing a variety of iron tools and implements that helped villagers with their day-to-day tasks.

Blacksmithing was brought to new world by Christopher Columbus and explorers like him. There are indications that blacksmithing first began in the Americas during the time of Lief Ericssons’ settlement in present day Newfoundland. It’s very like that in 1001 AD, the Norse were the first blacksmiths in the Americas. In the New England area, blacksmithing has existed ever since the settlers from across the Atlantic settle here. The Boston blacksmith profession endured until industrialization truly gained speed and started marching ahead.

If you want to know more about Boston blacksmith, you can call Boston Ironworks at 617 657 3117. You can also fill in this contact us form. We’ll get in touch with you as soon as possible.