Ancient and medieval sword makers fashioned swords from metals and alloys. Apply your knowledge of the properties of metals and their alloys to explain the advantages and disadvantages of making swords from copper, bronze, iron, or steel.

Pure metals are generally soft ones. However, when added with another kind of metal, the alloy now forms into a stronger substance. This is the reason why alloys are used in making swords. Metals are easier to find at that era and because of their lustrous and can be sharpened, metals are precurors of swords.