Final answer:
The Bronze Age was marked by the creation of bronze, an alloy of copper and tin, which necessitated long-distance trade due to the scarcity of tin. The need to acquire tin for making bronze significantly impacted early trade networks and led to the eventual transition to the Iron Age.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Bronze Age was a significant period in human history characterized by the use of metals for making tools and goods. The key technological basis for this period was the crafting of bronze, an alloy primarily consisting of tin and copper. The need for tin, which was not readily available in many regions, led to long-distance trade as civilizations sought out this scarce resource to make bronze. More often found in places like what is today Afghanistan, the rarity of tin deposits forced early peoples to travel and trade over great distances to acquire it. The introduction of iron, which could be used as a metal by itself, eventually led to the end of the Bronze Age and the beginning of the Iron Age.