(Chapter 1-2) BEER in ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt
Beer was a very important discovery, for it provided people with a great source of critical vitamin B’s while being resilient to contamination. The beer which we consume today has a much higher alcohol content than the 3% beverage of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. Discovered by accident, this drink became a part of people's daily diets, people of all classes benefited the nutritional qualities of beer. With even the poor able to obtain this drink, it really helped with the overall health of the population. What makes beer such an amazing discovery is for one the convenience of it’s storage. The way it’s prepared by boiling essentially kills a lot of the bacteria that is present and could accumulate over time as it is stored. Not only that, but also the alcohol in beer assist to the preservation and killing of any harmful bacterias. The use of beer has come a long way since the days it was first stumbled upon, even though the use and association of beer has become more of a recreational drink, it’s important to know the life sustaining benefits that made this drink part of the staple diet for the civilizations of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia.
Beer was a very important discovery, for it provided people with a great source of critical vitamin B’s while being resilient to contamination. The beer which we consume today has a much higher alcohol content than the 3% beverage of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. Discovered by accident, this drink became a part of people's daily diets, people of all classes benefited the nutritional qualities of beer. With even the poor able to obtain this drink, it really helped with the overall health of the population. What makes beer such an amazing discovery is for one the convenience of it’s storage. The way it’s prepared by boiling essentially kills a lot of the bacteria that is present and could accumulate over time as it is stored. Not only that, but also the alcohol in beer assist to the preservation and killing of any harmful bacterias. The use of beer has come a long way since the days it was first stumbled upon, even though the use and association of beer has become more of a recreational drink, it’s important to know the life sustaining benefits that made this drink part of the staple diet for the civilizations of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia.
As people began to move from a hunting/gathering lifestyle to more settled villages, along with this change came issues of sanitation with the larger, denser population. When they were migrating regularly, they would always have access to clean, uncontaminated water. However with the need to now dispose of waste, usually in the water source they drink and bathe in, people's healths were highly at risk with the bacteria infested water. This is where beer plays a vital role in a new form of medicine. Beer acted as a medical beverage, since boiling the drink kills most of the harmful bacterias as well as the alcohol contained in beer, it was a much safer drink than water. This cuneiform tablet is a great example of the earliest records of beer’s use as medicine, dating around 2,100BCE from the Sumerian city of Nippur.
This is one of the major reasons why beer became such a vital part of people's diets, becoming so popular that it is still being enjoyed today.
Not only was beer nutritional and provided a safer beverage than beer, it was also used like money. Worker of the pyramids in Egypt and mesopotamia would be paid with coins, which they would then later trade in for bread and beer. This shows just how high value beer was to be considered a kind of currency. After all food is everything and beer at the time was a cheap, easily made, nutritional, and safe staple foods.
“ It was consumed by everyone, rich and poor, men and women, adults and children, from the top of the social pyramid to the bottom” (Standage p.30).
Beer really was the drink of equality. Just as the rich could, the poor could also afford it and get their nutritional needs from this liquid bread. when people would drink it, it was as if no matter their appearance and where they lived, as soon as the drink touched their lips, inside they all became one in the same. It also represented communion, it was a social drink originally enjoyed through a shared vessel drunk with reed straws, in order to filter out debris which usually float along the surface.
The pictogram below is one of the earliest visual evidence of beer, where you can see two people drinking beer out of a large pottery jar with their reed straws.
Not only was beer nutritional and provided a safer beverage than beer, it was also used like money. Worker of the pyramids in Egypt and mesopotamia would be paid with coins, which they would then later trade in for bread and beer. This shows just how high value beer was to be considered a kind of currency. After all food is everything and beer at the time was a cheap, easily made, nutritional, and safe staple foods.
“ It was consumed by everyone, rich and poor, men and women, adults and children, from the top of the social pyramid to the bottom” (Standage p.30).
Beer really was the drink of equality. Just as the rich could, the poor could also afford it and get their nutritional needs from this liquid bread. when people would drink it, it was as if no matter their appearance and where they lived, as soon as the drink touched their lips, inside they all became one in the same. It also represented communion, it was a social drink originally enjoyed through a shared vessel drunk with reed straws, in order to filter out debris which usually float along the surface.
The pictogram below is one of the earliest visual evidence of beer, where you can see two people drinking beer out of a large pottery jar with their reed straws.
Sharing is caring, and I think that the aspect of the shared drink is another way in which beer brought people together and encouraged communion and connection, as it still does to some extent today.
“Beer was a staple foodstuff without which no meal was complete” (Standage p.30).
Beer became a necessity to the ancient people of Mesopotamia and Egypt as a source of nutrients such as vitamin B, and was also a safer beverage than water. It helped lead to the growth of civilizations because it was necessary for people to stay in one area over long periods of time in order to grow and collect the grain necessary to make beer. It was also a symbol of equality amongst the different classes, for everyone, rich or poor, could enjoy this drink.
(Chapter 3-4) WINE in Greece and Rome
The production of grain was replaced with that of grapes for wine. Wine was often had with meals, since it was a safer drink than water and represented wealth and power. As far as nutrition goes, grapes have antioxidant properties, so a bit of wine with a meal daily benefits the drinker's health. Wine was used as medicine in the form of cleaning wounds and as a safer drink than water.
“Wine reveals what is hidden” - Eratosthenes.
The Greeks and Romans believed that wine contributed to debates of philosophy and politics, because it made people less guarded and open in their thoughts. During Symposiums, where male aristocrats would discuss philosophical and political matters, wine was thought to be used as a truth serum, bringing out the truth in people's words. Very much like beer, wine would be drunk from a shared vessel during Symposiums, same way they would share this drink they would share their ideas and thoughts. However, women were not allowed to speak in these symposiums.
Wine may have separated the classes even more so than they were before. Because money was invested in the production of wine, where the people who benefit from the wine are usually the rich, and the ones who work for the wine and suffer from the lack of sustainable foods such as grain, suffer from the wine. A great separation developed between those with money and those without.
“The peoples of the Mediterranean began to emerge from barbarism when they began to cultivate the olive and the vine” - Thucydides (Standage 52-53).
Wine became a symbol of social differentiation. The masses would drink beer, whereas the rich, the powerful, and the privileged would drink wine.
Romans used slaves to produce wine and just about anything they needed. There came a time when even slaves were allowed to drink wine since it became such an important part of Roman culture. But the quality and brand of the wine still kept that social separation between classes.
Below: An illustration of the Roman road system.
“Beer was a staple foodstuff without which no meal was complete” (Standage p.30).
Beer became a necessity to the ancient people of Mesopotamia and Egypt as a source of nutrients such as vitamin B, and was also a safer beverage than water. It helped lead to the growth of civilizations because it was necessary for people to stay in one area over long periods of time in order to grow and collect the grain necessary to make beer. It was also a symbol of equality amongst the different classes, for everyone, rich or poor, could enjoy this drink.
(Chapter 3-4) WINE in Greece and Rome
The production of grain was replaced with that of grapes for wine. Wine was often had with meals, since it was a safer drink than water and represented wealth and power. As far as nutrition goes, grapes have antioxidant properties, so a bit of wine with a meal daily benefits the drinker's health. Wine was used as medicine in the form of cleaning wounds and as a safer drink than water.
“Wine reveals what is hidden” - Eratosthenes.
The Greeks and Romans believed that wine contributed to debates of philosophy and politics, because it made people less guarded and open in their thoughts. During Symposiums, where male aristocrats would discuss philosophical and political matters, wine was thought to be used as a truth serum, bringing out the truth in people's words. Very much like beer, wine would be drunk from a shared vessel during Symposiums, same way they would share this drink they would share their ideas and thoughts. However, women were not allowed to speak in these symposiums.
Wine may have separated the classes even more so than they were before. Because money was invested in the production of wine, where the people who benefit from the wine are usually the rich, and the ones who work for the wine and suffer from the lack of sustainable foods such as grain, suffer from the wine. A great separation developed between those with money and those without.
“The peoples of the Mediterranean began to emerge from barbarism when they began to cultivate the olive and the vine” - Thucydides (Standage 52-53).
Wine became a symbol of social differentiation. The masses would drink beer, whereas the rich, the powerful, and the privileged would drink wine.
Romans used slaves to produce wine and just about anything they needed. There came a time when even slaves were allowed to drink wine since it became such an important part of Roman culture. But the quality and brand of the wine still kept that social separation between classes.
Below: An illustration of the Roman road system.
“All roads lead to Rome”.
The Romans also became very proud of their wine, it became like a cultural symbol of Romance sophistication and class. In Rome, wine became a central part of society to the point where they were growing more grapes than grain. With this growing demand for wine, the production of grains go down. Therefore they needed to import grain from colonies in North Africa, leading to a growth in trade and a growth in population.
(Chapter 5-6) Spirits in the Colonial Period
With Spirits came a huge change in world history through trades of goods and food.
The Romans also became very proud of their wine, it became like a cultural symbol of Romance sophistication and class. In Rome, wine became a central part of society to the point where they were growing more grapes than grain. With this growing demand for wine, the production of grains go down. Therefore they needed to import grain from colonies in North Africa, leading to a growth in trade and a growth in population.
(Chapter 5-6) Spirits in the Colonial Period
With Spirits came a huge change in world history through trades of goods and food.
Also, since people believed that wine had healing properties, it was assumed that because spirits had higher alcohol properties than wine, it would be higher in healing properties as well.
“Wine was a convenient form of currency, but European slave traders quickly realized that brandy was even better”. (Sandage pg. 104).
Slaves were bought to make rum, and rum was made to buy slaves. Instead of wine, spirits were used as payment for workers because they were cheaper and quicker to make, and also had a higher alcohol content than wine. This higher alcohol made it a better preservative, so could last longer over long sea voyages.
“Rum was the liquid embodiment of both the triumph and the oppression of the first era of globalization” (Sandage pg. 111).
Spirits were involved the suppression of the indigenous people, social inequality, and the buying of slaves to work on sugar plantation.
“Wine was a convenient form of currency, but European slave traders quickly realized that brandy was even better”. (Sandage pg. 104).
Slaves were bought to make rum, and rum was made to buy slaves. Instead of wine, spirits were used as payment for workers because they were cheaper and quicker to make, and also had a higher alcohol content than wine. This higher alcohol made it a better preservative, so could last longer over long sea voyages.
“Rum was the liquid embodiment of both the triumph and the oppression of the first era of globalization” (Sandage pg. 111).
Spirits were involved the suppression of the indigenous people, social inequality, and the buying of slaves to work on sugar plantation.
“Throughout the colonial period, spirits provided an escape from hardship-both the self-imposed kind experienced by the European colonists and the far greater hardships they imposed on the African slaves and indigenous peoples” (Sandage pg. 127).
Spirits were used to conquer territories in the Americas:
French Fur Traders + Brandy
British + Rum
Spanish + Pulque
Spirits were responsible for the spread of knowledge through trade, the use of Arab technology, exploration, slavery, the subjugation of the indigenous people, revolution, and the spread of disease.
(Chapter 7-8) Coffee in the Age of Reason
“In the arab world coffee rose as an alternative to alcohol, and coffeehouses as alternatives to taverns - both of which are banned by Islam” (Standage).
Much like wine, coffee was associated with the sharing of thoughts and ideas at places like coffeehouses. However, unlike wine which relaxes the mind, coffee sharpens the mind. Some people thought that coffee also had medicinal properties, such as helping with headaches and stomach problems, as well as promoting rational thought. It was also considered a new and safe alternative to alcoholic beverages and water, because the coffee would be boiled at high temperatures, eliminating some of the bacteria that would be present in water.
“Throughout the colonial period, spirits provided an escape from hardship-both the self-imposed kind experienced by the European colonists and the far greater hardships they imposed on the African slaves and indigenous peoples” (Sandage pg. 127).
Spirits were used to conquer territories in the Americas:
French Fur Traders + Brandy
British + Rum
Spanish + Pulque
Spirits were responsible for the spread of knowledge through trade, the use of Arab technology, exploration, slavery, the subjugation of the indigenous people, revolution, and the spread of disease.
(Chapter 7-8) Coffee in the Age of Reason
“In the arab world coffee rose as an alternative to alcohol, and coffeehouses as alternatives to taverns - both of which are banned by Islam” (Standage).
Much like wine, coffee was associated with the sharing of thoughts and ideas at places like coffeehouses. However, unlike wine which relaxes the mind, coffee sharpens the mind. Some people thought that coffee also had medicinal properties, such as helping with headaches and stomach problems, as well as promoting rational thought. It was also considered a new and safe alternative to alcoholic beverages and water, because the coffee would be boiled at high temperatures, eliminating some of the bacteria that would be present in water.
Coffee fuelled commerce.
It created productivity which benefited societies that switched from alcohol to caffeine. Also the places that grow coffee always have buyers, especially Europe since they don’t grow any coffee. Plus the other ingredients that are present in coffee such as sugar and milk need to be produced somewhere then imported somewhere else, creating a source of money from those places that produce the coffee, sugar, and milk
It created productivity which benefited societies that switched from alcohol to caffeine. Also the places that grow coffee always have buyers, especially Europe since they don’t grow any coffee. Plus the other ingredients that are present in coffee such as sugar and milk need to be produced somewhere then imported somewhere else, creating a source of money from those places that produce the coffee, sugar, and milk
Credit for image above: David Duez.
“Europe’s coffeehouses functioned as information exchanges for scientists, businessmen, writers and politicians. Like modern websites” (Standage p.152).
Coffee united people of different status by being the reason for the invention of coffee houses, where men of different classes would go to talk freely of commercial and scientific ideas. This growing freedom of speech lead governments
To suppress these coffeehouses in an attempt to stop the spread of ideas and the interaction between different social classes. Women, for once, even played a role in these coffeehouses in France. However, not so much in Britain.
Coffeehouses were the first meeting places of revolutions.
“Europe’s coffeehouses functioned as information exchanges for scientists, businessmen, writers and politicians. Like modern websites” (Standage p.152).
Coffee united people of different status by being the reason for the invention of coffee houses, where men of different classes would go to talk freely of commercial and scientific ideas. This growing freedom of speech lead governments
To suppress these coffeehouses in an attempt to stop the spread of ideas and the interaction between different social classes. Women, for once, even played a role in these coffeehouses in France. However, not so much in Britain.
Coffeehouses were the first meeting places of revolutions.
- London coffeehouse 18th century -
“French coffeehouses highlighted the paradox that despite the intellectual advances of the enlightenment, progress in the social and political spheres had been hindered by the dead hands of the ancien (old) regime” (Standage p169).
Coffee and coffeehouses lead to more freedom of speech and intellectual thought amongst men of different status, leading to revolutions. Before coffee and tea, alcohol beverages were the drink to have with meals everyday. So it makes sense that the age of enlightenment follows the switch from alcohol to coffee, from a drink that would dull the mind to one that sharpens the mind.
(Chapter 9-10) Tea and the British Empire
Factory workers would get tea breaks, this helped with hunger since they didn’t have much time to rest and eat, only once for lunch. It also helped to relieve stress that comes with working in such a dangerous and toxic environment for long periods a day.
“When you start packing people together in cities it is helpful to have a water-purification technology like tea” (Standage).
Since tea was brewed with boiling water, it helped to remove some of the harmful pollutants that the city water contained. Standage also says how the beverage had unintentional health benefits. Tea helped with improve infant survival rates, this made the Industrial revolution possible by providing Britain with the labor force it needed.
“Better to be deprived of food for three days than of tea for one” - Chinese proverb.
Tea was drank daily in china during the 3rd century C.E., and probably still is. However, it played a massive role for medicinal purposes about three centuries earlier. Teas medicinal properties are known to kill bacteria that causes dysentery, typhoid and cholera. Green tea also contains more antioxidants than black tea, helping to reduce cancer risks and create a stronger immune system as well as help lower blood pressure.
In China, tea was first considered a medicinal product, but over time it soon became a goods of trade and profit. The Silk Roads being the main trading routes for tea, spices, ideas and religion, such as Buddhism. The Chinese generally looked down upon merchants and people of trade, when ironically, the trading of tea and other goods is what made China such an enormous economic power.
China had a monopoly over tea, and this is one of the main reasons why even though tea was introduced to Europe before coffee, people took to coffee sooner than tea. Because China in a sense controlled tea production, they could also control the price, and they made it expensive. Because tea was more expensive than coffee it only grew in popularity later during the Industrial Revolution.
Why is the British known for tea?
It’s largely thanks to the British East India Trading Company. The British had a close tie with the tea trading companies. Before this the Chinese didn’t want anything from Britain, but the British wanted tea and spices from China. However, the British figured out something that changed history. They discovered that they could grow opium plants in areas of India, then trade that with tea from China. Now with Opium, the British can offer the Chinese something of high value that they don’t already possess, while obtaining what they want which is tea.
“Englishmen around the world could drink tea, whether they were a colonial administrator in India or a London businessman” (Strandage)
Tea became a symbol of Britain, it didn’t matter where you were in the world, if you had your tea you are an Englishman at heart.
“The story of tea is the story of imperialism, industrialization and world dominance on cup at a time” (Standage p.177).
Tea played a massive role in Britain’s industrial and imperial power. The Industrial Revolution was fueled by tea. Factories started to incorporate tea breaks, making the workers more alert and productive. Tea also helped contribute to consumerism, because in order to drink tea, people had to have tea sets and all the necessary ware to prepare and drink the tea. The need for tea also called for a rise in slavery, because of the heavy demands for West Indian sugars. Also, events such as the Boston Tea Party of December 16th, 1773, provided steps towards American Independence.
(Chapter11-12) Coca-Cola and the Rise of America
America was a major industrial power during the 19th century, even more so than England. By the 1990’s, following the fall of the Soviet Union, America was the world’s largest superpower. Standage argued that the rise of America as a major superpower could be compared to the rise of the popular American beverage Coca-Cola. To some this drink represents equality and the American culture, to others it is a symbol or imperialism, capitalism and greed.
The technology behind making and packaging soda’s have been around for 150 years, and like the others 5 drinks in “The History of the World in 6 Glasses”, soda also was first considered a medicinal beverage, then later became just a tasteful drink. By the mid-19th century soda became extremely popular in America, and the process for packaging and producing was cheap and easily transported, therefore America created a lot of profit off of soda.
Joseph Priestley is the man that discovered how to create sparkling water, and suggested that it had health benefits to aid with nausea, tiredness, and scurvy, he even called it a medicinal drink. As for Coca-Cola, the first version was invented as early as 1887 by pharmacist John Pemberton. Pemberton was attempting to jump onto this bandwagon of “medicinal sodas” by creating a beverage that supposedly cured headaches and a series of other diseases.
This first version contained alcohol, but soon removed it from the recipe due to the law wanting to illegalize alcohol. Present were also cocoa leaves, that supposedly stimulated the nervous system and kills a person's appetite, and also the seeds of a kola plant. This is actually where the name Coca-Cola comes from. For these exotic ingredients, the U.S. had to import goods from overseas, which just shows the power and stability that America possessed.
“French coffeehouses highlighted the paradox that despite the intellectual advances of the enlightenment, progress in the social and political spheres had been hindered by the dead hands of the ancien (old) regime” (Standage p169).
Coffee and coffeehouses lead to more freedom of speech and intellectual thought amongst men of different status, leading to revolutions. Before coffee and tea, alcohol beverages were the drink to have with meals everyday. So it makes sense that the age of enlightenment follows the switch from alcohol to coffee, from a drink that would dull the mind to one that sharpens the mind.
(Chapter 9-10) Tea and the British Empire
Factory workers would get tea breaks, this helped with hunger since they didn’t have much time to rest and eat, only once for lunch. It also helped to relieve stress that comes with working in such a dangerous and toxic environment for long periods a day.
“When you start packing people together in cities it is helpful to have a water-purification technology like tea” (Standage).
Since tea was brewed with boiling water, it helped to remove some of the harmful pollutants that the city water contained. Standage also says how the beverage had unintentional health benefits. Tea helped with improve infant survival rates, this made the Industrial revolution possible by providing Britain with the labor force it needed.
“Better to be deprived of food for three days than of tea for one” - Chinese proverb.
Tea was drank daily in china during the 3rd century C.E., and probably still is. However, it played a massive role for medicinal purposes about three centuries earlier. Teas medicinal properties are known to kill bacteria that causes dysentery, typhoid and cholera. Green tea also contains more antioxidants than black tea, helping to reduce cancer risks and create a stronger immune system as well as help lower blood pressure.
In China, tea was first considered a medicinal product, but over time it soon became a goods of trade and profit. The Silk Roads being the main trading routes for tea, spices, ideas and religion, such as Buddhism. The Chinese generally looked down upon merchants and people of trade, when ironically, the trading of tea and other goods is what made China such an enormous economic power.
China had a monopoly over tea, and this is one of the main reasons why even though tea was introduced to Europe before coffee, people took to coffee sooner than tea. Because China in a sense controlled tea production, they could also control the price, and they made it expensive. Because tea was more expensive than coffee it only grew in popularity later during the Industrial Revolution.
Why is the British known for tea?
It’s largely thanks to the British East India Trading Company. The British had a close tie with the tea trading companies. Before this the Chinese didn’t want anything from Britain, but the British wanted tea and spices from China. However, the British figured out something that changed history. They discovered that they could grow opium plants in areas of India, then trade that with tea from China. Now with Opium, the British can offer the Chinese something of high value that they don’t already possess, while obtaining what they want which is tea.
“Englishmen around the world could drink tea, whether they were a colonial administrator in India or a London businessman” (Strandage)
Tea became a symbol of Britain, it didn’t matter where you were in the world, if you had your tea you are an Englishman at heart.
“The story of tea is the story of imperialism, industrialization and world dominance on cup at a time” (Standage p.177).
Tea played a massive role in Britain’s industrial and imperial power. The Industrial Revolution was fueled by tea. Factories started to incorporate tea breaks, making the workers more alert and productive. Tea also helped contribute to consumerism, because in order to drink tea, people had to have tea sets and all the necessary ware to prepare and drink the tea. The need for tea also called for a rise in slavery, because of the heavy demands for West Indian sugars. Also, events such as the Boston Tea Party of December 16th, 1773, provided steps towards American Independence.
(Chapter11-12) Coca-Cola and the Rise of America
America was a major industrial power during the 19th century, even more so than England. By the 1990’s, following the fall of the Soviet Union, America was the world’s largest superpower. Standage argued that the rise of America as a major superpower could be compared to the rise of the popular American beverage Coca-Cola. To some this drink represents equality and the American culture, to others it is a symbol or imperialism, capitalism and greed.
The technology behind making and packaging soda’s have been around for 150 years, and like the others 5 drinks in “The History of the World in 6 Glasses”, soda also was first considered a medicinal beverage, then later became just a tasteful drink. By the mid-19th century soda became extremely popular in America, and the process for packaging and producing was cheap and easily transported, therefore America created a lot of profit off of soda.
Joseph Priestley is the man that discovered how to create sparkling water, and suggested that it had health benefits to aid with nausea, tiredness, and scurvy, he even called it a medicinal drink. As for Coca-Cola, the first version was invented as early as 1887 by pharmacist John Pemberton. Pemberton was attempting to jump onto this bandwagon of “medicinal sodas” by creating a beverage that supposedly cured headaches and a series of other diseases.
This first version contained alcohol, but soon removed it from the recipe due to the law wanting to illegalize alcohol. Present were also cocoa leaves, that supposedly stimulated the nervous system and kills a person's appetite, and also the seeds of a kola plant. This is actually where the name Coca-Cola comes from. For these exotic ingredients, the U.S. had to import goods from overseas, which just shows the power and stability that America possessed.
Coca-Cola claimed to be able to cure headaches, melancholy, hysteria, and other diseases.
Coca-Cola was also broadening their customers by opening it up to everyone, as seen in the 1905 advertisement above. People of all sex and status.
Coca-Cola became even more popular during the great depression, when it would be advertised as a social drink that could be enjoyed anytime, anywhere. Very much sold with the image of a carefree escape from reality.
Below: - Great Depression Era (1927) Coca Cola Ad "The drink that keeps you feeling fit for what's ahead" -
Coca-Cola became even more popular during the great depression, when it would be advertised as a social drink that could be enjoyed anytime, anywhere. Very much sold with the image of a carefree escape from reality.
Below: - Great Depression Era (1927) Coca Cola Ad "The drink that keeps you feeling fit for what's ahead" -
Coca-Cola was a very important business move for America in many ways. It confirmed America’s status as a superpower by their ability to import exotic goods, it was represented the importance of advertisement, and it was a drink that could be enjoyed and sold to almost everyone of all ages and backgrounds. It really did, and still does, symbolized American dominance, and everything that’s good and bad about the American culture.
My Final Thoughts..
My Final Thoughts..
At first, all six drinks covered in Standage’s book are developed and drunk for their supposed medicinal and healthy benefits. But overtime, they remain a popular drink not for the reason they originally were, but rather because they became so commercialized and well know that they survived over time as just a tasty beverage. Through Standage’s work on these six glasses that shaped world history, I learned that a lot can be triggered by such a simple thing as a drink, and that while these beverages brought history and the evolution of mankind to where it is know, they also caused a lot of suffering and damage. It really is remarkable how these six beverages were some of the major catalyst in what created the world we live in now.
Below is a cool video I came across about these 6 glasses..
Below is a cool video I came across about these 6 glasses..