| In the second millennium BC, the Romans | | | | were used to store wine, water and other liquids, |
| emerged from a small settlement near Rome to | | | | the unguentarium held oils, spices, unguents and |
| begin a course of expansion that was to make | | | | balm and the bowls and plates were used to eat |
| them the dominant power in the Mediterranean. | | | | from and hold food stuffs. The amphora, classic in |
| By the 1st Century AD, Roman territories | | | | shape, was used for storage and shipping in the |
| expanded from Britain in the north to Egypt in the | | | | ancient world and was meant for household use |
| south. Much of the Roman culture and crafts | | | | and to hold wine, oil, spice or unguents. |
| reflected the preceding Hellenistic period; however, | | | | The Bronze Age is not a particular period of time. |
| their extensive trade network provided them with | | | | Some areas had their Bronze Age early, other |
| a great variety of materials. Artisans often | | | | had it late and still others skipped the Bronze Age |
| combined styles and materials creating their own | | | | altogether. The primary function of any metal |
| unique designs. Terracotta (baked clay) pottery | | | | industry in antiquity was the production of |
| was made and used throughout the middle east | | | | weapons and tools. A spear point, also known as |
| and was produced in the earliest settlements | | | | spearhead, was ranked as the chief weapon used |
| along the Fertile Crescent where the clay was | | | | in the battle of ancient Asia and Europe. The |
| abundant and varied in color. The early potters | | | | famous Greek poet, Homer, tells how Achilles |
| had ample resources with which to experiment, | | | | speared Hector through the neck wit a pole |
| create and develop their styles. The pottery was | | | | heavy with bronze. Spear points have played an |
| made as a fairly course, porous clay that when | | | | important part in history and have changed as |
| fired, assumes a color ranging from dull ochre to | | | | men have learned to make them of new material. |
| red and was usually left unglazed. Most terracotta | | | | Although metals made the best spear points of all, |
| pottery has been utilitarian because of its | | | | early men tied jagged pieces of stone onto their |
| cheapness, versatility and durability. As technique | | | | throwing sticks until they learned to shape pointed |
| and firing methods improved, a great variety of | | | | spearheads from pieces of flint. In the 2nd |
| shapes evolved. The most widely utilized pottery | | | | millennium BC, the Romans emerged from a small |
| in the Ancient World was oil lamp, bottles, | | | | settlement near Rome to begin a course of |
| unguentariums, pitchers, bowls and plates, their | | | | expansion that was to make them the dominant |
| basic shapes remaining unchanged for over a | | | | power in the Mediterranean. By the 1st Century |
| thousand years and still being used in today's | | | | AD, Roman territories expanded from Britain in |
| modern world. The oil lamp was the source of | | | | the north to Egypt in the south. |
| light in every household, the bottles and pitchers | | | | |