Fabrica

Smithing defines the arrival of the Bronze and Iron Ages, and blacksmiths could be found in almost every town and city, even in the developed world, until relatively recent times. Iron was beaten into shape for nails, knives, tools and, of course, weapons. A good blacksmith could turn his hand to anything, but as Rome's need for manufactured goods grew, there was a degree of specialisation in large-scale craft work. Lots of small-scale forges in the same place were able to turn out large amounts of reasonably standard iron goods. However, with slaves being so plentiful, the Romans never had the incentive to mechanise and use water-driven power tools, the first step towards an industrial revolution.