I am attempting to write a fictional story realistically depicting the advancement of metalworking from a stone-tools setting to a plate armor setting.
I am having a hard time outlining how humans went from surface mining to cold working metal to smelting and later forging more advanced equipment and tools. What inventions, milestones, or processes changed how things were done and unlocked more possibilities? What were prerequisites for these things?
How were screws first made, how were copper and bronze first able to be applied to shields and such? What steps in what order happened to advance metallurgy from ancient to high middle age levels?
Thank you very much in advance.
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