Beer influenced the transition from hunting and gathering to agricultural based societies because it gave people a keen interest in grain storage. Beer was discovered as gruel, a mixture of water and grain, that was heated. It stimulated a dopaminergic release, causing the people that experienced the flavor to yearn for that rewarding sensation more. Standage noted that people could store a pound of grain a year, which caused the transition away from the savage – minded lifestyle even more appealing (13). Beer is a drink used to relax and celebrate, and seeing that the world functions through the ability to communicate, beer was extremely valuable to the people of the time period. In addition, it is possible that a trade-off of some sort was made possible, as some would convert to beer-making and exchange their craft for meat and berries. In the book, it was said that beer “was truly the defining drink of those first great civilizations,” and these various new abilities brought into play through beer makes this understandable (30). All of these positive and attractive new possibilities are ways that beer influenced the switch from the traditional hunt – and – gather mentality to a more society – oriented lifestyle with agriculture.…
This history of beer in the ancient world tells us that these early civilizations, such as Ancient Egypt and Ancient Mesopotamia, were advanced to the point that they could enjoy such things. A society does not have time to enjoy simple pleasures when they have to go hunting every chance they get to supply their family with food. The history of beer also tells us that early civilizations valued unity, because the sharing of beer among friends promoted this idea.…
How did beer lead to the development of cities in Mesopotamia and Egypt? Grains grew widespread in the Fertile Crescent (The crescent shaped area which had an ideal climate and soil for growing plants and raising livestock, it stretches from Egypt, up the Mediterranean coast to Turkey, and then down again to the border between Iraq and Iran.) causing the unintentional discovery of beer. The Fertile Crescent’s extremely rich soil was suitable for the growth of cereal grains after the last ice age, which occurred around 10,000 BCE. Hunter-gatherers were drawn to the cereal grains and, the ability to keep the grains for long periods of time stimulated them to stay. If they hunter-gatherers could thrive of off the wild grain if they were willing to stay near it and harvest at its peak. After the hunter-gatherers had spent so much time collecting the grain they would have been reluctant to leave the grain that they had collected nor could they travel with it. For this reason hunter-gatherers began to settle on the land. These settlers soon found that the grain could be stockpiled for long periods of time without spoiling. The technology of these settlers was still in development so storage spaces were not usually watertight, and when the water got into the stockpile of the collected grains they started to sprout and acquired a sweet taste. Thus becoming malted grains. When gruel, which is made of boiled malted grains, was left to sit for a couple of days it undertakes an interesting transformation. It becomes a pleasantly intoxicating and slightly bubbly liquid, as the yeasts from the gruel turn it to alcohol. The cereal grains used to make beer was often used as an eatable currency, because everyone needed it. People traded and sold it, causing the development and expansion of cities.…
1. Wine was a more exotic and classy drink than beer. It was reserved for the highest social class.…
150,00 years ago, water had been the basic drink that mankind drank. Nomads would rely on water to survive, however, water had many pesticides and impurities that caused people to become sick and die. Beer was the first staple beverage in civilizations. It became important to all aspects of ancient life, social, religious, and economical. As civilizations began to brew beer it led them into a more modern world. Beer transitioned the nomadic life of early people to a stationary life. Beer was not invented though, it was simply a mistake that was waiting to he discovered. As nomads began to settle and harvest grain, it became a major staple in their diet. Storing was difficult to store in a way where it would stay safe for consumption. A popular porridge dish called gruel was a very common meal made with cereal grains. When left out, a chemical transformation would take place converting it into beer. Once discovered, beer was brewed constantly, improving the taste. Beer played a large part in the development of civilizations; it brought people together to share drinks and showed hospitality and familiarity. Beer was also very important in religion. This is because the process that converted gruel into beer was believed to be a gift from the gods. The finest and sweetest brews would be offered to gods as thanks. In Egypt, many people believed that Osiris, the god of the afterlife and agriculture, discovered beer. Therefore, beer was used as an offering in the afterlife and was buried with people when they died. As time went on, beer was not only a drink, but also a sign of being civilized and human. When beer was drunk, it showed that a person was sophisticated. As time progressed and people and civilizations became more advanced, beer was used as currency. Men, women, and children were granted amounts of beer as pay. Beer was also believed to cure…
Beer started out as gruel, and as the gruel fermented it turned into beer. Now it was not the first form of alcohol, but it was an important kind of alcohol. Beer was made from cereal crops, which were very abundant, and because it was so abundant it could be made whenever it was needed. They then found an even easier way to make beer by using beer-bread. Beer bread is basically everything needed to make beer in a loaf, making it convenient to store the raw beer materials. Beer started as just a social drink but then blossomed into a “hallmark of civilization”, as seen by the Mesopotamians. Grain was the basis of the national diet, it was basically edible money. Beer was something that distinguished the Mesopotamians from savages, beer made them completely human. Beer was associated with a settled and orderly lifestyle, not hunters and gatherers in prehistoric times. Beer defined them as the first great civilizations. Beer then became a way of payment and currency. Officials and people in the work force were paid in silas of beer as part of their ration. And because they were using beer and not actual money they were more prosperous, being able to use money for development. No matter what age you were, you drank beer. It was a staple for their life.…
In Greek religion and mythology, Pan (Ancient Greek: Πᾶν, Pān) is the god of the wild, shepherds and flocks, nature of mountain wilds, hunting and rustic music, and companion of the nymphs.[1] His name originates within the Ancient Greek language, from the word paein (πάειν), meaning "to pasture."[2] He has the hindquarters, legs, and horns of a goat, in the same manner as a faun or satyr. With his homeland in rustic Arcadia, he is recognized as the god of fields, groves, and wooded glens; because of this, Pan is connected to fertility and the season of spring. The ancient Greeks also considered Pan to be the god of theatrical criticism.[3]…
The first drink, beer, was prevalent in Mesopotamia and Egypt. “Beer was not vented but discovered” (11). It was discovered because of the gathering of wild grains, the grains were used for many different things and inevitability turned into something new and different. The people in this time were encouraged not to leave where they were because of this grain. The reason they couldn't leave their grain is because they had to be at their homes to harvest enough to eat on all year and so other people would not steal the grain. This idea with the grain led to the first permeant settlements.…
Greece was the birthplace of Western Civilization because its culture became the embodiment for the other western civilizations. The tale of the ancient Greek civilization showed an immense painful history of foreign supremacy. But their civilization was built on solid foundation and led by powerful leaders that created values, norms and customs that are still being practiced and observed by many modern societies. This is the reason why the Greek civilization continued to flourish, remembered, celebrated throughout the entire world. One of the factors that can be considered as an important part of the Greek civilization development is the geography. The geography of Greece had a very overwhelming impact on every aspect like its political, cultural,…
The first origins of beer are unknown, but beer was a very important drink in Mesopotamia. Beer was shared with two straws as it was a symbol of hospitality and trust. This carries on today, not in the form people sharing a drink with straws, but common drinks are still offered from the same pot or same bottle. Beer also had religious purposes in Mesopotamia. The Egyptians believed that beer was accidently discovered by Osiris. He then passed on his knowledge to humans, which is why the Egyptians believe that it is a gift from God. This is why Beer was used as an offering during religious ceremonies, and still is. Beer may have also caused the switch from hunting and gathering to farming. After beer became more prominent…
The higher class in ancient Greece had access to an abundance of exotic foods, spices. and wines much more than the peasants and lower class had access to. The upper class ate meat and drank wine with every meal while their peasant counterparts only ate it every once and awhile. When they ate it was almost always to excess; eating enormous meals and drinking multiple cups of wine (“Food and Drink”). The Greek…
Wine, one of the most famous and popular indulgences of all time has known to inspire many artists, musicians, entrepreneurs as well as many cultures around the world. The breath taking ensemble of aromas and extracts of fruits and flowers can stir up even the most boring of conversations. Throughout history, wine has affected many different civilizations and continues to flourish across the entire world. The very first encounter with wine has been traced all the way back to The Stone Age according to archaeologists (National Geographic).…
Winemaking is the production of wine, starting with the selection of grapes and other produce, and ending with putting the delicious wine into bottles! Although wine is usually made from grapes, it may also be made from other fruits! Winemaking can actually be divided into 18 different categories….. Harvesting, destemming, crushing, primary (alcoholic) fermentation, pressing, pigeage, cold stabilization, heat stabilization, second fermentation, bulk aging, Malolactic fermentation, laboratory tests, blending, fining, preservatives, filtration, and last but not least, bottling! Lets now find out how to make wine!…
Beer jugs dating back to about 10,000 B.C. have been discovered and Egyptian hieroglyphs as old as 3100 B.C. show that wine was enjoyed far back into the first and second dynasties. In Egyptian burials, alcohol was used to help the dead journey into the afterlife. There is also evidence that the Babylonians, around 1600 B.C., knew how to brew twenty different types of beer. (Gifford, 2010).…
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.…