Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c27.s1.t3.2

v1.c27.s1.t3.2

Export of Indian iron (or steel or wootz) was recorded not only by the Romans but also by the Arab and Iranian scholars. Bronson (1986: 19) himself records several pre-Islamic Arab literatures of the sixth and early seventh century in this connection. The Prophet was compared to a ‘drawn muhenned (Indian) sword in Allah’s armory’. Similar references to ‘swords made in India’ were made by Jabir Ibn Hayyan (eighth century AD), Al-Kindi (ninth century), Al-Biruni (11th century AD) etc., till the knowledge of making swords of steel was widespread in Sri Lanka, Malayasia, Arab countries, Iran, etc. Al-Idrisi wrote in Al-hadid Al-Hindi (twelfth century AD):