China (ancient smelting techniques)

Ancient Chinese smelting techniques involved heating ores in furnaces to extract metals like bronze and iron. They used charcoal as fuel to reach high temperatures and employed bellows to increase airflow, ensuring more efficient burning. The process often involved multiple steps: crushing ores, heating them in clay or stone furnaces, and adding fluxes to separate metal from impurities. Innovations like blast furnaces and sophisticated furnace designs improved metal yield and quality over time. These techniques laid the foundation for advanced metallurgy, enabling China to produce durable tools, weapons, and cultural artifacts that significantly influenced technological development.