>This issue has been historically researched with respect to artillery development, which seems to have been mostly bronze up until the 18th century, when relia

>This issue has been historically researched with respect to artillery development, which seems to have been mostly bronze up until the 18th century, when reliable iron/steel artillery was introduced. But then couldn't they have simply made steam engines out of bronze? It might be more expensive, but it's certainly enough to demonstrate the concept.