Fertile Crescent Case Study
According to Standage, how did the Fertile Crescent get its name?
The Fertile Crescent got its name due to its highly nutritious soil, which allows various types of grains to be grown there such as wheat and barley.
How is beer production an example of plant domestication?
Beer production is an example of plant domestication because the grains it’s made out of need to be grown in mass quantities in order to produce the drink. Standage argues that as humans transitioned from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle to a more settled one, they started to incorporate beer more and more into their daily routines. As beer became more of a commodity and not just a drink, they needed an ample supply of grains to support the growing demand. Therefore, they deliberately began to cultivate grains that had once been considered “wild” in order to have enough to produce enough of the beverage for the growing population.
What effect did storing grain have on hunter-gatherer societies?
Storing grains had a large effect on hunter-gatherer societies for many reasons. As humans began to more readily focus on the collection of grains it made them congregate to one location in order to maximize the amount of grains harvested. This of course meant that once collected (assuming they would have had a large amount of …show more content…
food), they would stay to protect their valuable goods. This led to more permanent settlements. With a more nutritious and steady supply of food, populations began to grow, creating even more complex versions of previous societies. It allowed different social positions to emerge and even a very primitive class system, as well. It promoted religious affairs as farmers began to worship and please the gods in order to ensure a harvest in the next season. They did this by offering grains, so in time the grain storage houses became temples. These temples were the center of each community because they not only were the source of livelihood, but were also responsible for making sure each person contributed to the storage houses, creating a system of organized accountability for each citizen.
How was beer used by the Sumerian and Egyptian Civilizations?
Sumerians and Egyptians used beer in many different ways. It was considered a “social drink”, meaning that it was meant to be shared between people. This is illustrated as the earliest beers were drank through straws from one large vessel, but as time went on the process was refined and the debris that once floated at the top of the drink was gone. However, people continued to use straws to drink beer, proving that it had a greater significance and had impacted social practices. It was considered friendly and hospitable to share a beer with someone, a practice that is still seen in modern times. Even more so, beer was used for religious purposes, too. Its effects on humans were considered supernatural and therefore the drink became associated with the gods. It was used in religious ceremonies as gifts for the gods for in hopes to better their lifestyle, whether that be by harvesting a better crop or having more children. Also, it made up for the nutrition lost from solid food, giving beer drinkers a health advantage over others.
How did farming pave the way for the emergence of civilization?
Farming paved way for the emergence of civilization because it required large masses of people to settle in one spot in order to cultivate enough food. This increased the population by providing enough food and nutrition for humans to reproduce and survive longer. With a larger population, social classes emerged, which meant more specialized labor, as well. As society became more complex, humans realized the need to record transactions. They did this by creating a system of written symbols and tokens to to represent each good and how much of it was collected or distributed. This led to the first form of writing (cuneiform) and also supported the flourishing economy as grains were used as a valuable currency.
6. What did drinking wine symbolize in ancient Greece?
Drinking wine in ancient Greece symbolized social status.The age, origin and price of the wine determined who would receive each type.
The elite would drink the most expensive and oldest wine they could find, while the lower classes drank a date-palm wine, which was much lower quality. This was because the further the wine had to travel to get to the buyer, the more borders it had to cross, therefore generating numerous taxes and tariffs. This was why only the most expensive wines were reserved for the most important and wealthy people. Wine played such a prominent role in society that is was considered a highly held talent to be able to distinguish a wine based on its taste
alone.
7. What role did wine play at the symposium?
Wine played a large role in symposiums by acting as a conversation starter for various discussions about politics, philosophy, literature or any other current event. It was used as a way to get people to speak freely, without getting too riled up or “barbaric” (that’s what beer was used for). It symbolized sophistication and brought people together by allowing them to speak openly about various topics. Many would argue that without the presence of wine at the symposiums, democracy and philosophy would have developed very differently due to the absence of the mind-altering drink.
8. What did drinking wine symbolize in ancient Rome?
Drinking wine in ancient Rome symbolized civilization and was a mark of social status. Vines were considered the best and most prized crop to grow in ancient Rome, and more and more farmers began to grow them on a larger, more commercial scale. This displaced rural farmers and they moved into growing cities instead. This led to more trade and interactions, which only made Rome stronger and more powerful. Parallel to Greece, wine in Rome was used as a way to distinguish between the elite and the commoners. This was such an important part to society that laws were passed to ensure that only the best wine would go to the richest and most important elites.
9. What was a convivium and how did it reflect social status?
A convivium was similar to a Greek symposium, except it emphasized class divisions instead of encouraging people to come together. There were various rules and laws that were followed to ensure that the social rank of each patron would be matched with the wine they should drink. The aristocrats drank and ate the best food, while the lower ranked individuals were served lower quality items.
10. Why do Christians drink wine and Muslims do not?
Christians drink wine because when the Visigoths destroyed Rome in 410 BCE, a fusion of Germanic and Roman cultures occurred. Wine continued to be a valued good, which was intensified even more when Jesus Christ offered wine to his disciples at the Last Supper. This practice of communion was a inspired by old Roman and Greek wine gods, who associated the drink with supernatural qualities due to its intoxicating effect. The Christian practice of communion reflects this as wine is drank in order to become closer to Jesus Christ, and therefore Christian values. Muslims however, do not drink wine because the prophet Muhammad received a message from Allah stating that wine would only led to trouble and distress. Even more so, by not drinking wine, Muslims illustrated that they were finished with the old ways of civilization, proclaiming they were completely different than their Christian counterparts. Avoiding wine symbolized freedom, individuality and a new age that would not be influenced by any western practice or values.
11. From which advanced civilization did Europeans get the “science” of making spirits?
The Europeans got inspiration for the science of making spirits from the Arabs that populated Cordoba, Spain. However, observations about the nature of the distilling process had been made by the Greeks and Romans prior to that time.
12. In what ways was the “discovery” and use of distillation important to the the rebirth of science in Europe?
The “discovery” of spirits in Europe was an essential factor to its rebirth of science because it opened many doors to other areas of study and new technologies. It was perceived as a magical drink with supernatural qualities. It went hand in hand with the budding science of chemistry, which led to the discovery of distillation and how to make stronger wines. Since the original texts about the process were written in Arabic, they had to be translated into Latin in order to be read by the European people. This encouraged globalization and connections between each area possible as spirits were used as more than just a drink while traveling aboard ships.
13. How did spirits advance/accelerate colonialism?
Spirits accelerated colonialism because they were used as a valuable currency and trading good. Europeans would trade hard alcohol (particularly brandy) for African slaves, as it became a mark of status to drink imported alcohol among the African slave traders. It was so popular because the alcohol content was much higher compared to the usual wines. The slaves were then sent to sugar plantations in the Caribbean (under the Spanish) and South America (under the Portuguese) to work. The sugar was then sent out to Europe and other areas of the world and the cycle continued. This of course, led to the invention of rum, which only intensified this abhorrent process. Rum became essential in control of these colonies because administrators would ration how much each slave recieved, and eventually this turned it into an important currency in both Europe and on the plantations.
14. In the 18th century, how did spirits help Britain become a more superior navy than France?
Spirits helped the British navy become more superior than the French due to their excellent medicinal qualities when mixed with lemons and limes. Scurvy, a disease caused by a lack of vitamin C was common among sailors at the time. In 1665, rum was used instead of beer as a ration for the sailors due to its long shelf-life. Water could be mixed with it without diluting the taste, which allowed the normal, unpalatable water to be drunk. Eventually sugar and citrus (which contains high amounts of vitamin C) were added to the mix, creating a drink called “grog”, which kept sailors healthy and scurvy-free. However, in the French navy sailors were rationed wine, which contains small amounts of vitamin C, only making them more susceptible to the disease. In fact, the British resistance to scurvy arguably helped them defeat the French and Spanish fleets at Trafalgar in 1805.
The Fertile Crescent got its name due to its highly nutritious soil, which allows various types of grains to be grown there such as wheat and barley.
How is beer production an example of plant domestication?
Beer production is an example of plant domestication because the grains it’s made out of need to be grown in mass quantities in order to produce the drink. Standage argues that as humans transitioned from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle to a more settled one, they started to incorporate beer more and more into their daily routines. As beer became more of a commodity and not just a drink, they needed an ample supply of grains to support the growing demand. Therefore, they deliberately began to cultivate grains that had once been considered “wild” in order to have enough to produce enough of the beverage for the growing population.
What effect did storing grain have on hunter-gatherer societies?
Storing grains had a large effect on hunter-gatherer societies for many reasons. As humans began to more readily focus on the collection of grains it made them congregate to one location in order to maximize the amount of grains harvested. This of course meant that once collected (assuming they would have had a large amount of …show more content…
food), they would stay to protect their valuable goods. This led to more permanent settlements. With a more nutritious and steady supply of food, populations began to grow, creating even more complex versions of previous societies. It allowed different social positions to emerge and even a very primitive class system, as well. It promoted religious affairs as farmers began to worship and please the gods in order to ensure a harvest in the next season. They did this by offering grains, so in time the grain storage houses became temples. These temples were the center of each community because they not only were the source of livelihood, but were also responsible for making sure each person contributed to the storage houses, creating a system of organized accountability for each citizen.
How was beer used by the Sumerian and Egyptian Civilizations?
Sumerians and Egyptians used beer in many different ways. It was considered a “social drink”, meaning that it was meant to be shared between people. This is illustrated as the earliest beers were drank through straws from one large vessel, but as time went on the process was refined and the debris that once floated at the top of the drink was gone. However, people continued to use straws to drink beer, proving that it had a greater significance and had impacted social practices. It was considered friendly and hospitable to share a beer with someone, a practice that is still seen in modern times. Even more so, beer was used for religious purposes, too. Its effects on humans were considered supernatural and therefore the drink became associated with the gods. It was used in religious ceremonies as gifts for the gods for in hopes to better their lifestyle, whether that be by harvesting a better crop or having more children. Also, it made up for the nutrition lost from solid food, giving beer drinkers a health advantage over others.
How did farming pave the way for the emergence of civilization?
Farming paved way for the emergence of civilization because it required large masses of people to settle in one spot in order to cultivate enough food. This increased the population by providing enough food and nutrition for humans to reproduce and survive longer. With a larger population, social classes emerged, which meant more specialized labor, as well. As society became more complex, humans realized the need to record transactions. They did this by creating a system of written symbols and tokens to to represent each good and how much of it was collected or distributed. This led to the first form of writing (cuneiform) and also supported the flourishing economy as grains were used as a valuable currency.
6. What did drinking wine symbolize in ancient Greece?
Drinking wine in ancient Greece symbolized social status.The age, origin and price of the wine determined who would receive each type.
The elite would drink the most expensive and oldest wine they could find, while the lower classes drank a date-palm wine, which was much lower quality. This was because the further the wine had to travel to get to the buyer, the more borders it had to cross, therefore generating numerous taxes and tariffs. This was why only the most expensive wines were reserved for the most important and wealthy people. Wine played such a prominent role in society that is was considered a highly held talent to be able to distinguish a wine based on its taste
alone.
7. What role did wine play at the symposium?
Wine played a large role in symposiums by acting as a conversation starter for various discussions about politics, philosophy, literature or any other current event. It was used as a way to get people to speak freely, without getting too riled up or “barbaric” (that’s what beer was used for). It symbolized sophistication and brought people together by allowing them to speak openly about various topics. Many would argue that without the presence of wine at the symposiums, democracy and philosophy would have developed very differently due to the absence of the mind-altering drink.
8. What did drinking wine symbolize in ancient Rome?
Drinking wine in ancient Rome symbolized civilization and was a mark of social status. Vines were considered the best and most prized crop to grow in ancient Rome, and more and more farmers began to grow them on a larger, more commercial scale. This displaced rural farmers and they moved into growing cities instead. This led to more trade and interactions, which only made Rome stronger and more powerful. Parallel to Greece, wine in Rome was used as a way to distinguish between the elite and the commoners. This was such an important part to society that laws were passed to ensure that only the best wine would go to the richest and most important elites.
9. What was a convivium and how did it reflect social status?
A convivium was similar to a Greek symposium, except it emphasized class divisions instead of encouraging people to come together. There were various rules and laws that were followed to ensure that the social rank of each patron would be matched with the wine they should drink. The aristocrats drank and ate the best food, while the lower ranked individuals were served lower quality items.
10. Why do Christians drink wine and Muslims do not?
Christians drink wine because when the Visigoths destroyed Rome in 410 BCE, a fusion of Germanic and Roman cultures occurred. Wine continued to be a valued good, which was intensified even more when Jesus Christ offered wine to his disciples at the Last Supper. This practice of communion was a inspired by old Roman and Greek wine gods, who associated the drink with supernatural qualities due to its intoxicating effect. The Christian practice of communion reflects this as wine is drank in order to become closer to Jesus Christ, and therefore Christian values. Muslims however, do not drink wine because the prophet Muhammad received a message from Allah stating that wine would only led to trouble and distress. Even more so, by not drinking wine, Muslims illustrated that they were finished with the old ways of civilization, proclaiming they were completely different than their Christian counterparts. Avoiding wine symbolized freedom, individuality and a new age that would not be influenced by any western practice or values.
11. From which advanced civilization did Europeans get the “science” of making spirits?
The Europeans got inspiration for the science of making spirits from the Arabs that populated Cordoba, Spain. However, observations about the nature of the distilling process had been made by the Greeks and Romans prior to that time.
12. In what ways was the “discovery” and use of distillation important to the the rebirth of science in Europe?
The “discovery” of spirits in Europe was an essential factor to its rebirth of science because it opened many doors to other areas of study and new technologies. It was perceived as a magical drink with supernatural qualities. It went hand in hand with the budding science of chemistry, which led to the discovery of distillation and how to make stronger wines. Since the original texts about the process were written in Arabic, they had to be translated into Latin in order to be read by the European people. This encouraged globalization and connections between each area possible as spirits were used as more than just a drink while traveling aboard ships.
13. How did spirits advance/accelerate colonialism?
Spirits accelerated colonialism because they were used as a valuable currency and trading good. Europeans would trade hard alcohol (particularly brandy) for African slaves, as it became a mark of status to drink imported alcohol among the African slave traders. It was so popular because the alcohol content was much higher compared to the usual wines. The slaves were then sent to sugar plantations in the Caribbean (under the Spanish) and South America (under the Portuguese) to work. The sugar was then sent out to Europe and other areas of the world and the cycle continued. This of course, led to the invention of rum, which only intensified this abhorrent process. Rum became essential in control of these colonies because administrators would ration how much each slave recieved, and eventually this turned it into an important currency in both Europe and on the plantations.
14. In the 18th century, how did spirits help Britain become a more superior navy than France?
Spirits helped the British navy become more superior than the French due to their excellent medicinal qualities when mixed with lemons and limes. Scurvy, a disease caused by a lack of vitamin C was common among sailors at the time. In 1665, rum was used instead of beer as a ration for the sailors due to its long shelf-life. Water could be mixed with it without diluting the taste, which allowed the normal, unpalatable water to be drunk. Eventually sugar and citrus (which contains high amounts of vitamin C) were added to the mix, creating a drink called “grog”, which kept sailors healthy and scurvy-free. However, in the French navy sailors were rationed wine, which contains small amounts of vitamin C, only making them more susceptible to the disease. In fact, the British resistance to scurvy arguably helped them defeat the French and Spanish fleets at Trafalgar in 1805.