[codewench]

Wootz (and Damascus) steels for example were of much higher quality than what was usually produced in Europe. I can't say if this is what gave European smiths the knowledge they needed to create their own quality steels, or if it was a case of parallel invention, but for a time Asia was producing much better stuff.

[NegativeLatency]

Can't find the source I want to share, but my understanding is that it was developed accidentally in multiple places, as it's a matter of accidentally getting the carbon content of the iron correct to make steel. Then you pass down your accidents and people gradually improve on it. It wasn't until relatively recently that we understood the chemistry of what's going on and were able to reliable make different grades of steel.

Found it, this blog is great if you're interested in the history of blacksmithing: https://acoup.blog/tag/blacksmithing/

[orange_joe]

I don’t think it’s particularly controversial to state that non-European cultures were making and working steel. I think it’s fairly revisionist (a narrative outside the academic mainstream) to state they passed this knowledge to Europeans and this knowledge was useful in at scale steel making (implying that Bessemer process has its origins outside of Europe/America).

[BlueTemplar]

Late modern Europeans were aware of crucible steel, and tried really hard to replicate them - IIRC this involved expeditions to India ? - (and seem to have succeeded) :

https://www.thoughtco.com/wootz-steel-raw-material-damascus-...

https://www.construction-physics.com/p/the-rise-of-steel-par...

https://www.sanskritimagazine.com/tale-crucible-wootz-steel-...