A History of the World in 6 Glasses, by Tom Standage, discusses the influence of various drinks on certain events and throughout the course of history. The drinks we read about in this book are beer, wine, spirits, tea and (from the epilogue) water. The overall purpose of this book is to explain and prove that each of these drinks had a profound effect on the world. Tom Standage is a digital editor and an author who wrote a plethora of books on an array of events and times throughout history. That being said, Standage’s work can be trusted and recommended as he is a qualified writer.
However, when beer was discovered it became moderately prevalent and a necessity to some degree. It was used in religious formalities as it was thought to be a gift from the Gods. It was used for social collaborations as well. In order to keep up with its high request, hunter-gatherers had to deliberately farm. One of the key reasons for its popularity was its ability to be stored which was Unlike anything they’ve ever seen before as the ability of previous food sources were not up to that level of technologies for the storage of the grain.
It had become the center of religious, social, and economical life for the Mesopotamians. Standage claims that “[Beer] came into existence during… the switch from a nomadic to a settled lifestyle” (Standage p. 10). In this text provided, Standage infers that beer was a factor that helped the Mesopotamian society become a civilization rather than continuing on with the nomadic lifestyle, this shift led to a sudden increase in social complexity and the emergence of cities.
Journal #1. Page 19- “Since beer was a gift from the gods, it was also the logical thing to present as a religious offering.” Response - Beer was used in ceremonies such as religious, agricultural, funerals, etc. The religious meaning of beer has a longer timeline than the Sumerians and the Egyptians.
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
It had -- and continues to have-- an effect on the political, economic, and social aspects of civilizations. Dating back to the world 's first civilizations beer has a huge influence on the economy. In Mesopotamia "…wages and rations were paid in bread and beer.." (Standage Pg.2) ; cereal grains were considered the base of the economy. To this day beer is still creating jobs and generating economic growth.
Working people were often paid in beer. Water, which was made people sick due to the contents in it, was replaced with beer as a healthier option. Standage argues that beer was the start of social civilization in that it was
Beverages were often drank to seal business deals and treaties, which meant a lot in the beginning of history. A History of the World in 6 Glasses provides me with the most significant beverage and least significant beverage in my opinion. Although wine was somewhat rare and usually only available to the richest, elite people, I believe wine was the most significant beverage listed in A History of the World in 6 Glasses. The most fascinating thing to me was how many of the kings would host parties and serve wine to guests.
Since beer barrels and bottles were frequently used to carry and store illegal alcohol, they came to represent it everywhere. Because beer was a popular alcoholic beverage during the period, and the Prohibition Amendment made it illegal to make or consume it, beer barrels and bottles symbolize the 18th Amendment. Beer barrels and bottles came to represent the illegal alcohol trade and the speakeasies that sprung up to feed it. Beer barrels and bottles came to symbolize the 18th Amendment's failure in many ways because Prohibition did little to reduce alcohol consumption and instead encouraged organized crime and corruption.
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
Events shape the world and the people that live within it. They can cause improvements in the quality of life that people have, harm people, and either help create alliances or throw them off balance. However, occurrences are not evenly distributed throughout time. Thus, some years have a more significant and lasting impact than others. One of these years is 1570.
Beer was an amazing discovery that changed the course of history forever. It was used for religious ceremonies, as a source of currency, and it had many other uses through the course of ancient and modern history. When exactly beer was first discovered is not
Early Egyptian writings encouraged mothers to send bread and beer for their lunch. The ancient Egyptians’ made 17 types of beet and 24 different wines. Beer was the major beverage for Babylonians at about 2700 B.C. Beer and wine were used for medical purposes in
Before the European arrival, alcohol was not a known substance in the Americas. Beers and wines were produced but they were weak. The intoxication levels were not as strong as the alcohol that was later introduced. Native Americas were going through major changes with the Europeans settlement. New trading materials were being produced and introduced by both group of people.
The early people thought beer to be a gift from the gods, and used it in many religious ceremonies. Beer was referenced in early literature as well: “That beer drinking was considered a hallmark of civilization by the
