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.
Ancient Civilizations Egypt, Mesopotamia, and India are some of the early civilizations, that helped to shape the world as we know it. Each ancient civilization had many contributions to society. Some would include irrigation, grid like house system, and written languages. Ancient Egypt is one of the most common ancient civilizations. We all know them for the pyramid but that 's not all that they achieved.
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
However, even in the ancient times people disapproved of beer. Although egyptians enjoyed beer there was a strong disapproval of drunkenness. Scribes would publish rules or guidelines with titles such as "Take not upon thyself to drink a jug of beer…" This shows the politics behind drinking beer. You were expected to drink beer as it was a symbol of prosperity but you weren 't supposed to become intoxicated.
Before the discovery of beer, people in the region were nomadic, due to the lack of clean water. Beer was created through the distillation of water. Once beer was recognized as a stable drink, people began to settle, creating a Middle Eastern society. Also, drinks showed social class. Standage illustrates the importance of wine and how it was very religious and expensive.
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.
This displays the first economic similarity. To explain, spirits played a huge role in gathering support for George Washington in an election in the House of Burgesses. His campaign gave out rum to gather supporters. This started George Washington’s rise to power. (p.118) Similarly, coffee played a role in gathering support for Charles II of England under the rule of Cromwell.
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.
However, the consumption of alcohol did not come without
Most women were seen as too responsible to drink. One woman’s temperance leader posited in her book that “men think logically, women biologically”; therefore women would not oppose Prohibition because of a
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
