History of the World in 6 Glasses
Justin
AP World History
8/1/13
A History of the World in 6 Glasses: A Study of the Impact on Society
From the beginning of human existence, fluids have been acknowledged as a necessity over food. One can only survive a few days without consumable liquids, but weeks without food. Fluids have helped evolve and shape economies and societies since the beginning of mankind. The first universal drink itself heavily influenced early human society, and is followed by other glasses in the future, which also impacted communities and social interactions. The first beer is thought to been brewed many thousands of years ago in a resourceful area known as the Fertile Crescent. The large supply of grain encouraged nomadic human tribes to reside in the area to process it into an edible solid or liquid form, which enabled a constant food supply and ultimately allowed people to unite and form groups. Without the discovery of beer, it may have been thousands of years before humans constructed firm social connections. Wine, although discovered in the same location and at a similar time to that of beer, was not popularized until King Ashurnasirpal’s reign, when the extravagant glass was served at a feast celebrating the inauguration of a new capital. Wine was soon traded and drunk around the globe. The glass rapidly overcame beer’s use in religious practice. Wine, seen as a finer drink, targeted the wealthier and for use in ceremonies. At the awning of the first millennium, a process known as distillation was popularized and used to create alcoholic drinks known as spirits. Spirits often included sugar, and in result, many slaves were issued to harvest large portions of sugarcane. Drinks such as rum and whiskey became popular, especially among sailors, due to their high alcoholic content and storage capabilities. In result, these multipurpose fluids occupied the public attention many years. Coffee, known for its ability to sharpen the mind, was widespread across Europe in
AP World History
8/1/13
A History of the World in 6 Glasses: A Study of the Impact on Society
From the beginning of human existence, fluids have been acknowledged as a necessity over food. One can only survive a few days without consumable liquids, but weeks without food. Fluids have helped evolve and shape economies and societies since the beginning of mankind. The first universal drink itself heavily influenced early human society, and is followed by other glasses in the future, which also impacted communities and social interactions. The first beer is thought to been brewed many thousands of years ago in a resourceful area known as the Fertile Crescent. The large supply of grain encouraged nomadic human tribes to reside in the area to process it into an edible solid or liquid form, which enabled a constant food supply and ultimately allowed people to unite and form groups. Without the discovery of beer, it may have been thousands of years before humans constructed firm social connections. Wine, although discovered in the same location and at a similar time to that of beer, was not popularized until King Ashurnasirpal’s reign, when the extravagant glass was served at a feast celebrating the inauguration of a new capital. Wine was soon traded and drunk around the globe. The glass rapidly overcame beer’s use in religious practice. Wine, seen as a finer drink, targeted the wealthier and for use in ceremonies. At the awning of the first millennium, a process known as distillation was popularized and used to create alcoholic drinks known as spirits. Spirits often included sugar, and in result, many slaves were issued to harvest large portions of sugarcane. Drinks such as rum and whiskey became popular, especially among sailors, due to their high alcoholic content and storage capabilities. In result, these multipurpose fluids occupied the public attention many years. Coffee, known for its ability to sharpen the mind, was widespread across Europe in