Tom Standage's The History Of The World In Six Glasses

Sarah Bedell
9/4/14
A.P. World History
Mrs.Spampinato

The History of the World in Six Glasses : Book R

The book ,The History of the World in Six Glasses by Tom Standage is a book dedicated to beverages and the

Standage's intent for this non-fiction novel was to show six insignificant products that we see, use or have heard of i

different light. Showing how they have sculpted our cultures and ways of life in the modern world. These six produc

coffee, tea, and coca-cola. These drinks affected more than just the diet of people it changed their societies and ways

of these drinks brought on a new cultural stage. Each beverage showing different eras and how the beverage of that t

impacting ours. Starting with beer in the first
civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt. Then going to wine with Gree

times with Europians and eventually getting to America.
Next, their was coffee that started in the Arab world travelin

which started selling its drink in America and out broke to throughout the rest of world. His intent was to show the h not nomadic in the view of six different drinks.

Standage presented his thesis in a very interesting and intriguing way throughout this novel. There are six ma
Mesopotamia and Egypt, Wine in Greece and Rome,Spirits in the colonial Period, Coffee in the Age of Reason, Tea

the Rise of America. Each main chapter has two mini chapters in them for example in the chapter Tea and the British

of tea and Tea Power. Standage’s writing mostly focased on the beverages causes and effects in the different areas an

developed but he would add things about the people of these times and their way of living. He also added some trad

were created in ancient times such as clinking glasses together for good health and happiness before drinking a glass

little drinks changed humans from nomadic people who were hunter- gatherers to people who lived in cities and dev

Standage showed the history of the world in six drinks hence the title A History of the World in Six Glasses. Most
ev

e History of the World in Six Glasses : Book Review

ndage is a book dedicated to beverages and there impact on cultures and civilizations. Tom

nt products that we see, use or have heard of in everyday life and bring them into a

s of life in the modern world. These six products were beverages ; beer, wine , spirits,

t of people it changed their societies and ways of living. Standage’s theory is that each one

ng different eras and how the beverage of that time impacted their way of life eventually

amia and Egypt.
Then going to wine with Greece and Rome and spirits in the colonial

as coffee that started in the Arab world traveling throughout Europe and finally Coca-cola

the rest of world. His intent was to show the history of the world in which humans were

ng way throughout this novel. There are six main Chapters in this book ;Beer in

nial Period, Coffee in the Age of Reason, Tea and the British Empire, and Coca-Cola and

m for example in the chapter Tea and the British Empire the two mini chapters are ; Empires

ages causes and effects in the different areas and lands they were most popular and

d their way of living. He also added some traditions that we have in today’s culture that

d health and happiness before drinking a glass of beer. His book shows how six measly

gatherers to people who lived in cities and developed writing, government and farming.

A History of the World in Six Glasses. Most everyday people would think these drinks were

irrelevant to history but Standage is contrary to their beliefs and states how these drinks are catalysts for growth
and

civilizations. So when in the future you are taking a sip one of one of these six drinks you are literally holding and d

foundations of our civilizations and nations is these six liquids. Tom Standage stands for his thesis throughout the bo novel. The book starts out with beer. Beer played a central role in the beginning of agriculture, which is one of the

the way for humanity to transform to the modern world. People began drinking more beer since the water they had w

did not happen when they were in small nomadic tribes. A said in the book “Beer helped to make up for the decline i

farming.” ( pg 22). Eventually jobs arose including scribes and craftsmen, “ bread and beer, became more than just s

widespread forms of payment and currency.” ( pg 35). Then Wine in Greece and Rome emerges. Wine initiated sea b

said in the novel “ Its reputation for unparrelled cultural sophistication, and its encouragement of both hedonism and

culture. These values went along with Greek wine as it was exported far and wide.” ( pg 66-67) and “ So the ships t civilization, distributing it around the Mediterranean and beyond, one amphora at a time. ( pg 68).

how these drinks are catalysts for growth and development in different nations and

these six drinks you are literally holding and drinking history. His writing shows how the

tandage stands for his thesis throughout the book not disproving it once throughout the

beginning of agriculture, which is one of the turning points of human history. Farming set drinking more beer since the water they had was contaminated due to their waste which

book “Beer helped to make up for the decline in food quality as people took up

men, “ bread and beer, became more than just staple foodstuffs, they were convenient and

Greece and Rome emerges. Wine initiated sea born trade which spread Greek culture. as

, and its encouragement of both hedonism and philosophical inquiry, wine embodied Greek

ar and wide.” ( pg 66-67) and “ So the ships that carried Greek wine were carrying Greek

amphora at a time. ( pg 68).