Iron and Steel By Liam Fikkers Period: Jan 1, 900 to Dec 31, 1279 Song Dynasty 976 Increased State Support for Iron Production 990 Improved Furnaces Allowed for Enhanced Iron Manufacturing Process Dec 31, 1000 Coal takes the role of charcoal 1050 Introduction of Hydraulic Powered Hammers and Trip Hammers for Refining Iron 1078 125,000 Tonnes of Iron and Stone Produced per Year 1150 Technological Refinement 1150 Introduction of Blast Furnaces With Multiple Tuyeres, Improving Efficiency 1200 Development of Advanced Quenching Techniques to Enhance the Hardness of Steel Products 1250 Economic and Political Instability Leading to a Decline in Iron and Steel Production 1279 Fall of the Song Dynasty Due to Mongol Conquest