Summary Of A History Of The World In Six Glasses

A History of the World in Six Glasses by Tom Standage With most subjects, one of the best ways to learn is to associate the topic with a relatable connection. Commonly, a writer will draw a comparison to a familiar concept when talking about a foreign topic to help make it easy for the reader to understand. In A History of the World in Six Glasses, author Tom Standage is able to tell about different times in history through the invention and development of six different beverages. A History of the World in Six Glasses illustrates historical improvements thoroughly. 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,

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. If one was able to afford wine, it showed the wealth of the individual. Later, it began to mark the social status of communities. As history progressed, the Arabs distilled wine to make a stronger drink known as spirits. The drink was utilized many ways: medicinally and pure enjoyment. While beer, wine, and spirits were alcoholic drinks, dry beverages built world civilization too. The Arab world created what is known as coffee. Coffee was considered to heighten brain clarity. It was the choice drink of scientists and intellectuals to produce sharpness and clear thoughts. Another drink that enlightens world history is tea. Tea linked European trade with the east. Tea prophets helped with the advancement of commercial organization into the east. Originally, it was