<P> The extraction of iron from its ore into a workable metal is much more difficult than for copper or tin . The process appears to have been invented by the Hittites in about 1200 BC, beginning the Iron Age . The secret of extracting and working iron was a key factor in the success of the Philistines . </P> <P> Historical developments in ferrous metallurgy can be found in a wide variety of past cultures and civilizations . This includes the ancient and medieval kingdoms and empires of the Middle East and Near East, ancient Iran, ancient Egypt, ancient Nubia, and Anatolia (Turkey), Ancient Nok, Carthage, the Greeks and Romans of ancient Europe, medieval Europe, ancient and medieval China, ancient and medieval India, ancient and medieval Japan, amongst others . Many applications, practices, and devices associated or involved in metallurgy were established in ancient China, such as the innovation of the blast furnace, cast iron, hydraulic - powered trip hammers, and double acting piston bellows . </P> <P> A 16th century book by Georg Agricola called De re metallica describes the highly developed and complex processes of mining metal ores, metal extraction and metallurgy of the time . Agricola has been described as the "father of metallurgy". </P> <P> Extractive metallurgy is the practice of removing valuable metals from an ore and refining the extracted raw metals into a purer form . In order to convert a metal oxide or sulphide to a purer metal, the ore must be reduced physically, chemically, or electrolytically . </P>

When did metallurgy first occur in the bible