The Progress of Lucretius Three-age system

page 1 chapter 1 of de rerum natura, 1675, dedicating poem alma venus

the romans believed species of animals, including humans, spontaneously generated materials of earth, because of latin word mater, mother , descends english-speakers matter , material. in lucretius earth mother, venus, whom poem dedicated in first few lines. brought forth humankind spontaneous generation. having been given birth species, humans must grow maturity analogy individual. different phases of collective life marked accumulation of customs form material civilization:

the earliest weapons hands, nails , teeth. next came stones , branches wrenched trees, , fire , flame these discovered. men learnt use tough iron , copper. copper tilled soil. copper whipped clashing waves of war, ... slow degrees iron sword came fore; bronze sickle fell disrepute; ploughman began cleave earth iron, ...

lucretius envisioned pre-technological human far tougher men of today ... lived out lives in fashion of wild beasts roaming @ large. next stage use of huts, fire, clothing, language , family. city-states, kings , citadels followed them. lucretius supposes initial smelting of metal occurred accidentally in forest fires. use of copper followed use of stones , branches , preceded use of iron.