Fri. 1-30-15 30 A History of World in 6 Glasses

Keila Delgado

World History G

Hello! For my 30 minute reading, I continued to learn about the importance of beverages throughout history from the book, "A History of World in 6 Glasses" by Tom Standage. In many history classes, we are limited to studying the fundamentals of what shaped the world, but never truly looking into any of the small things which impact greatly. For example, beverages. Beverages contributed into the shaping of society, tradition, and culture so much. There are six drinks in particular- "beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea, and cola"(2). Each drink is basically symbolizing a current time period that it had trend on. 

The first cities in the world were in Mesopotamia. Mesopotamia was called "the land between the streams"(24).  This was due to the fact that it was placed in the middle of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The people who lived in these cities were there because they wanted to "be near religious or trading centers"(25) and many other factors. With this growth of civilization, meaning "living in cities"(25), Egypt and its cities grew to become the world's largest. "Agricultural surplus" made a particular effect in the cities, especially because so many people and things depended on it. Agricultural surplus made grain possible. With grain, came the ability to produce ones own food and diet. It was also sort of like "edible money"(26), and it came in both solid and liquid forms, as bread and beer.

This Picture is of a gathering in Egypt. They are all enjoying the food and beer that has brought them together.

Of course, there was the possibility of drunkness, but it seemed to have done nothing to "undermine the equation of beer drinking" with civilization (27). In the writings of Mesopotamians, they are called "playful" and "humorous"(27). Beer was very important to Egyptians culture, too. It is mentioned in documents from the 3rd Dynasty, which began in "2650 BCE". One neat Egyptian tale says that beer" saves humankind from destruction" (28). The story is explained when you look into Ra, the sun god, who learned that mankind was the punishment. In the end, Hathor becomes the goddess of beer and saves humankind. 

This photo is of Hathor; the goddess of beer.

Not everyone was pleased with beer, however. In contrast to the laid back Mesopotamians, Egyptian texts "copied out by apprentice scribes" showed a strong disliking toward intoxication (30). Still, it was an important item to most of them. Without it, no meal was complete. It very much defined the drink of the first civilizations.