Introduction
In “A History of the World in 6 Glasses” by Tom Standage, the author makes the argument that certain beverages (e.g. beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea, and cola) have shaped and affected human history. He states that by examining the processes and lengths at which the drinks were made will allow for an in depth look of certain eras in time. Many factors play a part in the course of history and beverages are an intricate part of that development. The argument that Tom Standage makes in the introduction of the book is a compelling one that although is a unique take on history it is not one that is outlandish. Though it seems unlikely beverages had a part in the development of history, I agree with the stance Standage takes in the
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This section of the book, by far, had to be the most interesting to me, as I am an avid enthusiast of the ancient cultures in the Mediterranean. Although this section, like “Beer in Mesopotamia and Egypt” was mostly a refresher course in what I already know, I found it interesting each time Standage made a reference to a person in ancient times I knew. Not only that, but when Standage starts to discuss the socioeconomic hierarchy both Greece and Rome had, I liked how he compared it to that of wine. Wine, like other beverages discussed in the novel, were used as symbols to show different statuses of wealth- where the finer the drink, the wealthier you were. The way Standage creates a link between the socioeconomic hierarchy Greece and Rome had to that of wine, was a very interesting concept and kept me intrigued while I read. Overall, this section of the book, was my favorite part as the references to Greek and Roman culture were exciting to read about. For example, when he discussed things like mixing water and wine or even talking about the symposiums, this became a great interest to me, leaving me wanting to know more about these ancient …show more content…
I enjoyed the position Standage took when discussing world history. I found his execution with comparing history to drinks, to be done fairly well. Although I found the book to be very intriguing, at times I felt as if Standage’s claims had little substance within them, particularly in the first half of the novel. I felt as if I was being cheated on with the claim Standage made in his thesis- that all the drinks somehow deeply impacted human history but personally, the alcoholic beverages section did not deliver on that claim and left me disappointed. It wasn’t until the caffeinated drinks did I feel as if Standage really deliver on his
The History of the World in Six Glasses: Book Review In the book, A History of the World in Six Glasses, by Tom Standage, it explains world history through the six most popular and influential drinks dating back from approximately 3400 BCE to present day. Throughout human history, these six drinks have done more than just quench thirst; they have influenced the course of history from humankind’s adoption of agriculture to the advent of globalization.
Caroline King Dr. Parker History 111 6 November 2017 A History of the World in Six Glasses - Book Review A History of the World in Six Glasses is a book by Tom Standage that describes how different drinks has changed people’s lives over the years. Chapters one through three specifically describe how beer, wine, and distilled spirits have changed the many societies of the world. All these drinks were very popular and they changed countries politically, economically, and socially. Beer was a discovery like no other and people loved and revered it so much that it was used for just about everything.
Tom Standage described the rise of civilization through six common drinks: beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea, and cola. The ability for some drinks to be made allowed for major advancements. For example,
Seven Events That Made America America: And Proved That the Founding Fathers Were Right All Along is written by Larry Schweikart. Schweikart is an American historian as well as a professor of history at the University of Dayton. As a child he grew up in Arizona where he would later attend Arizona state university. While there, Schweikart completed an M.A. and later earned his Ph.D. in history from University of California, Santa Barbara in 1984.
Standage also stated that beer was not considered invented like drinks today, beer was discovered and was a form of money and beer was even considered a religious offering. Standage then discussed wine that was a part of the Roman and Greek tradition. Wine was known as a drink that involved sophistication and power,
In John Standage’s book, A History of the World in Six Glasses, the history of the world is told through the history of six beverages; beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea, and Coca Cola. The effect that each has had on the world is profound and immeasurable, however, of the six beverages, I have found that coffee has played the largest and most significant role in world history. One way that coffee affected world history is that establishments that served coffee created a social venue for members of the community to bond over various topics. Standage wrote that coffeehouses were hotspots for “gossip, rumor, political debate, and satirical discussion.”, similar to what they are in the present day. These topics led to Kha’ir Beg, ruler of Egypt, as well as his superiors worrying about coffeehouses being a popular meeting place for those wishing to overthrow the government.
This book reveals to us how beer and wine were used for cultural, social, political, and even medical purposes. Finally, Standage shows us how civilizations grew by the spreading of beer and wine, and how the spreading of these drinks spread culture around the world. To Standage beer and wine is a technology that played huge role in the developing and advancing civilization. In the introduction, Standage states that throughout history various drinks have/had such high significance
A History of the World in 6 Glasses by Tom Standage is not the typical history read that one might expect. To some who find reading history books quite tedious and overwhelming, this book is for you. Standage divides his book into 6 main sections via beverages: Beer, Wine, Spirits, Coffee, Tea and Coca-Cola. These drinks, which all started as a form of medicine, not only have great affects on today’s social culture but have also affected the historical spread of technology, religion, exploration, trade, slavery, and noteworthy worldwide events that changed society. As Standage describes it, Beer was a representation of both liquid wealth and health during the early civilizations in Egypt and Mesopotamia.
Q1. What does Source 1 reveal about gin and beer consumption between 1700 and 1760? Source 1 shows beer consumption stayed consistent until the 1751 gin act where consumption increased, while gin consumption was increasing until 1751 where it rapidly decreased. Q2. From source 2, identify any two problems in eighteenth-century London.
A History of the World in 6 Glasses Did you know if you went more than a few days without providing your body with fluids you could possibly die? In the book A History of the World in 6 Glasses, by Tom Standage, world history can be divided into 6 different beverages that chart the flow of world history; beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea, and cola. Not only are drinks vital for our health drinks have played a variety of roles in history. Yes, we do consume drinks to quench our thirst, but they have provided humans over the past ten thousand years with social status, currency, celebration, and so much more. The type of drink you drank whether it is wine or beer could determine if you were of the elite.
Throughout human history, many different things affected culture and history as a whole. From laws, to inventions, to technological advancements. One thing most people do not consider to be part of this list is drinks. In the book “A History of the World in 6 Glasses” by Tom Standage, six different drinks that heavily affected world history are discussed and analyzed. Beer and wine had an extensive effect on the world, but coffee is, without question, the most influential of the three.
In the book, The Roman Way, by Edith Hamilton, the author intends to show a lense into early Roman societies. The Roman civilization is explained by analyzing the writings of several of the greatest authors of the time including Cicero, who wrote many letters; Catullus, who was a poet of love; Horace, a historical writer; and the Romantic writers such as Virgil, Livy, and Seneca. The author is effective in conveying an understanding of what the Romans of the time thought and felt. She also shows what kind of legacy they left behind. This is why the book is a piece of literature that contributes to society in a positive way.
Before reading this book and writing this review, I had never given much thought to the Greek life. The only part of Greek life I paid attention to was Greek mythology. Stories of gods and great heroes. I read fiction or more modern history books. Books such as JFK’s biography or Harry Potter.
Alcohol is something that has been prevalent in human culture since early Mesopotamian culture. It is made by the fermentation of sugar, which can be derived from fruits, honey, grains and milk. There are many different types of alcohol, including mead, wine, whiskey, and several others, but for the purpose of this paper we will focus on beer and moonshine. Evidence of beer has been found as early as 3200 BC in the sumerian civilization. The clarity of the material suggests that beer was a very common occurrence at this time, and the evidence continues to suggest that it was used for nearly 2000 years more during temple rituals.
This book manages to turn the Trojan War into something more than an old story. Strauss does an excellent job in pulling from sources of other cultures to frame the story of the Trojan War, as well as add credibility to Homer. In that regard, it is excellent and keeps your interest. His writing style isn't the most exciting and there are a few times Strauss seems to pursue aspects unrelated to the overall story. It is short, though not succinct.