Just like metallurgy, the pillars of which were established already in the copper age, so too did the trade routes evolve in the bronze age - both in extent and volume of goods.

Transport over long distances was focused on waterways and logboats, as well as narrow paths for freight transport.
Bronze semi finished products began to be used as a currency. Items and tin were exchanged for gold, silver, fur, Baltic amber, salt and more.

In the bronze age, many amber ornaments were found in Apennine peninsula, as well as in Peloponnese and as far as Wessex. The source of this amber was far to the north, in the lands by the Baltic sea. A specific kind of amber necklace was only found only in two places: Wessex and Mycenae.

The Amber road connected north and south, exchanging coveted material and objects, while enriching societies and cultures along the way. The Amber road would continue to play an important role even during the roman empire.

The continent really was now more connected than ever before.

Even after the Bronze age collapse, culture and trade continued to evolve within and beyond the civilisations of eastern Mediterranean.

At the transition from 2nd to 1st millennium BC, there was a lively exchange of half-finished copper items and ingots taking place between eastern Mediterranean and other parts of Europe.

Within the wider alpine region, the other main and older source of copper ingots was the area of Grauwacken in eastern alps. Local communities could now depend on multiple sources of copper and bronze objects.

Along with goods came the exchange of knowledge of metallurgy and measurements. This would eventually push Europe into the Iron age.


Sources: docs.google.com/document/d/1mnK9tpEvz9UgeVWuUh8fPF…

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