Bronst

Bronst is a term used in Dutch-language sources that may refer, depending on context, either to bronze as an alloy or to the Bronze Age (Bronstijd). Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin (and sometimes other elements), notable for its hardness and ability to hold a sharp edge. The production typically involves smelting copper and tin ore and combining them in specific proportions before casting.

In historical contexts, the Bronze Age is the period in which bronze tools and weapons became widespread, roughly from 3300–1200 BCE in different regions. Its emergence contributed to changes in technology, economy, and society, including increased craft specialization, the development of long-distance trade to obtain tin, and the rise of urban centers. Artifacts from this era include weapons, agricultural implements, bells, and intricate ornaments. The period also saw the growth of complex social hierarchies and the emergence of early writing in some regions.

The Bronze Age ended in many areas with the transition to the Iron Age, beginning around 1200 BCE in the eastern Mediterranean and somewhat later in Europe. Iron, more abundant and versatile, gradually supplanted bronze for many tools and weapons. The term bronst remains primarily used in Dutch to reference either bronze as a material or the Bronze Age, depending on context.