Summary Of A History Of The World In 6 Glasses
Angela Richardson
Mrs. Witte
Honors World History
October 9th, 2014
For almost all my life, I have been conditioned into believing that the world I have come to know was shaped by the discovery of diverse religions, turbulent revolutions, years-long tempestuous wars, and an ongoing list of other events that impacted history forever. However, Tom Standage’s bestseller uncovers a different perspective on the history of the world - a standpoint that gives every day beverages a more significant role besides quenching thirst. A History of the World in 6 Glasses demonstrates the magnitude refreshments had in shaping the lives of human beings, including beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea, and coca-cola. Utilizing over 100 sources, Standage examined …show more content…
Nevertheless, the novel stresses beer’s significance in Mesopotamia and Egypt not for frivolous uses, but as symbols of health, money, and power during the stone-age. An eye-catching subtitle, “Under the Influence of Beer?” (17), mocks the usage of the beverage now compared to its true value around 10,000 BCE. The book then shifts its attention to wine, which is often used as an entertainment drink in the modern days. It is depicted in the novel as a common export for trades in Ancient Greece and a signal of wealth and power. During the colonial period, spirits, which is modernly considered alcohol, were utilized as a way to strengthen sailors during long-distance voyages and gave a “sensation of invigoration and well-being” (98) after drinking. Coffee became leading beverage during the Age of Enlightenment, stimulating thoughts for intellectual exchange. With the help of tea imported from China, Britain became a global superpower and established their foreign policy. Aiding the United States in its supremacy, soft-drink Coca-Cola became the most popular beverage in the
Mrs. Witte
Honors World History
October 9th, 2014
For almost all my life, I have been conditioned into believing that the world I have come to know was shaped by the discovery of diverse religions, turbulent revolutions, years-long tempestuous wars, and an ongoing list of other events that impacted history forever. However, Tom Standage’s bestseller uncovers a different perspective on the history of the world - a standpoint that gives every day beverages a more significant role besides quenching thirst. A History of the World in 6 Glasses demonstrates the magnitude refreshments had in shaping the lives of human beings, including beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea, and coca-cola. Utilizing over 100 sources, Standage examined …show more content…
Nevertheless, the novel stresses beer’s significance in Mesopotamia and Egypt not for frivolous uses, but as symbols of health, money, and power during the stone-age. An eye-catching subtitle, “Under the Influence of Beer?” (17), mocks the usage of the beverage now compared to its true value around 10,000 BCE. The book then shifts its attention to wine, which is often used as an entertainment drink in the modern days. It is depicted in the novel as a common export for trades in Ancient Greece and a signal of wealth and power. During the colonial period, spirits, which is modernly considered alcohol, were utilized as a way to strengthen sailors during long-distance voyages and gave a “sensation of invigoration and well-being” (98) after drinking. Coffee became leading beverage during the Age of Enlightenment, stimulating thoughts for intellectual exchange. With the help of tea imported from China, Britain became a global superpower and established their foreign policy. Aiding the United States in its supremacy, soft-drink Coca-Cola became the most popular beverage in the