Final answer:
Iron replaced bronze as the preferred metal due to its abundance and advancements in ironworking technology, making it cheaper and more effective. The fall of bronze's dominance was catalyzed by the disruption of trade networks needed for bronze production, unlike iron which could be sourced locally. By around 900 BCE, ironworking skills were refined, making iron tools and weapons superior to bronze ones.
Step-by-step explanation:
The transition from bronze to iron during the period between 1200 and 900 BCE in the Near East and eastern Mediterranean is chiefly attributed to the greater abundance of iron and the advancements in technology that allowed iron to be more effectively used for tools and weapons. While bronze was dependent on long-distance trade for tin, necessary for its production, the collapse of these trade networks made bronze difficult to manufacture. Despite the initial challenges in ironworking, the discovery that iron could be used to make stronger and more durable items without extensive trade networks made it more advantageous.
The Iron Age began as a result of innovations in metallurgy and the widespread availability of iron, which did not require the importation of other materials for alloys, unlike bronze. This led to advancements in weaponry and agriculture. Eventually, iron tools and weapons became cheaper and more effective than their bronze counterparts, which were once limited to wealthier empires, and by around 900 BCE, the mastery of ironworking had been established in the Near East, making iron the metal of choice.