A History Of The World In Six Glasses Chapter Summaries

Chloe Desgroseillier

Mrs. Fox

World History 103

March 25, 2023

A History of the World in Six Glasses Book Précis Throughout the world’s history, as water was not commonly a healthy option, other drinks shaped civilizations socially, economically, politically, and industrially and helped further develop the world into what it is today. These specialized drinks were beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea, and Coca-Cola. Beer was the first beverage to become a central part of early civilization, majorly contributing to its spread and growth of the population and economy. Wine brought people together in symposiums and helped define social status in the Roman world, it started a new tradition of conversation and dinner parties that have carried on

Coffee was the drink of the Enlightenment period, giving clarity of mind to many leading to novel concepts and revolutionary ideas such as the Scientific Method and many other political, social, and scientific topics. Tea aided in leading to the Industrial Revolution and broke the boundaries of social hierarchy because it was a drink that everyone had, from the highest monarch to the common laborer. Coca-Cola contributed to the beginning of America’s own “Industrial Revolution” in a way from its need for large production and marketing, and became a uniting force of America’s values and a symbol of patriotism. The future of the world is represented by water, which is the most

Many of them were images of sculptures and art from specific periods concerning the drink, but many others were first-hand accounts and quotes from people. There were more quotes and personal anecdotes found later in the book, especially around the coffee section, as the printing press and other ways of documentation became more popular. No matter the source type, it always pointed back to the thesis made at the beginning of the section, as well as the overall contention of the book. For example, images of stonework in both the beer and wine sections depict how the drinks brought people together in communal groups as well as royal festivities, effectively showing how these drinks were often the center of society. A poem in the tea section depicts how the Queen of England at the time brought tea into England and forever changed the British through tea but also an easier way to the East Indies. A newsletter bragged about Coca-Cola becoming an American drink, a prime source of American value and principle, which boosted the morale of soldiers in World War II. With a plethora of sources and source types used, Tom Standage provided ample evidence to support his thesis and contentions, creating a book that was not only interesting but reliable and