Iron eventually replaced bronze tools such as axes, chisels, fishing hooks and arrow heads but it required a lot of work since they did not have the ability to heat the iron to more than 1500 degrees.
iron was found by Egyptians and they used it a lot.
iron use has been dated from before christ. the Sumerians and Egyptians used Iron for small objects like spear point and jewelery.
iron weapons and tools
Iron technology was first developed in the middle east in about 1300 BC and well scientists are not sure which civilization developed iron technology first. Another thing the starting use of iron technology was the beginning of the iron age.
I am not 100% sure if this is the correct answer since you used the word extensive... but the first people to use iron would be the Hittites.. While they created iron they could not create enough to be effective in the use of battle with the Egyptians... who used copper weapons.
The used copper, bronze, lead, gold, silver, electrum and, iron. They did not start working iron until the late bronze age; And they started producing it until the Iron age II.
The ancient Egyptians primarily thrived during the Bronze Age, which lasted until around 1200 BCE. While they did have some knowledge of iron, particularly during the later periods, the widespread use of iron tools and weapons did not occur until after the Bronze Age had ended. Thus, while iron was known to them, ancient Egypt is not considered to have been a true Iron Age civilization.
Iron eventually replaced bronze tools such as axes, chisels, fishing hooks and arrow heads but it required a lot of work since they did not have the ability to heat the iron to more than 1500 degrees.
They produce large amount of iron
Egyptians still use hieroglypics
The conquerors of Egypt had an advantage of Romans because of their weapons.
The process of making iron strong enough to use for weapons was developed by ancient civilizations, such as the Hittites and Egyptians, through a technique called carburization. This involves adding carbon to the iron to create steel, which is stronger and more durable than pure iron.