You must comment at least one time for each beverage but are encouraged to comment as many times as you like. I will start out with discussion questions but feel free to pose your own questions as well. Post should be completed by the date listed on each beverage question but by all means respond in advance.
To make your comments, click on 'reply' beneath each question.
This book may be taken out of the library, read on an online book service, purchased in a local bookstore or purchased from an online book carrier. It is not a requirement that you own this book but it would be a great addition to your personal library.
Also note: By having you read this book I am in no way advocating the consumption of the beverages being written about. This is simply a way to view history from a different lens.
1. Beer (June 20, 2014, 11:59pm)
ReplyDeleteHow did the 'discovery' and use of beer influence the transition from hunting/gathering to agricultural based societies?
When surplus grain was being stored, accidental fermentation was what created the first beer. This shows that, already, societies were beginning to transition from hunting and gathering towards more fixed locations and food sources; storing grain meant that those people would stay in the same location long enough to reap the benefits from having set aside grain for a future point in time. Once beer had been created, there was yet another motive for staying put; if they stayed and cultivated the grain, they could produce more beer. Since the transition towards agriculturally based societies had already begun, beer urged the process along by adding the incentive of being able to produce more of early humanity’s favorite beverage.
DeleteStone-age humans lived turbulent and uncertain lives; we lived day to day upon the natural resources we were able to hunt or gather. Through a mysterious series of events, however, we began to collect the cereal grains that substantiated our diet. This planning for the future shows, not only, great initiative on our part, but an advancement in our thinking; we were transitioning from living day to day to existing in the long term.
DeleteGrain became our biggest source of food; we knew how to store and access it, and the carbohydrates gave us an instant rush of energy. At one point, it seems that a kind of prehistoric gruel was left to sit too long, or water was accidentally mixed in with a store of grain, thus fermenting the mixture and creating the world's first beer. Thick, rich with nutrients, slightly sweet, and certainly safer than water, beer became our beverage of choice. To ensure we would have more beer in years to come, we began to plant the seeds from our collected grains in patches of fertile land. Whether the first farms were born as a desire to create more beer, or if that was just a perk, remains unclear, but we can safely assume that beer played a major role in helping us move from hunting and gathering to sophisticated farm societies.
After the first Ice Age, the transition to agriculture based societies had already started but was more influenced after the accidental fermentation of beer. The water these people were drinking was extremely contaminated with bacteria when later they found out that beer coul not be contaminated. In an agriculture based society, population is higher than "hunter gatherer" populated societies making it more possible to brew/produce beer. A solution to survival was always hunting and gathering food until beer became popular. Beer not only became a neccesity, it was used in ceremonies and was known as a gift from the gods. One of the main reasons why it was so well-known and intuiging was it's ability for the surplus amound of grain to be stored easily. In a "hunter gatherer" lifestyle, storability was unlikely which is why moving to an agriculture based society was so encouraged after the discovery of beer.
DeleteThe 'discovery' of beer significantly influenced the movement from hunting/gathering practices to agricultural societies. Early humans started to stay in one place in order to save their surplus of grain, which then turned to gruel, which in turn led to the creation of beer. Once humans started drinking this, they discovered that it was healthier than water at the time, since water was greatly contaminated with bacteria due to the lack of filtration and knowledge about sanitation. They regarded this as a godly drink and had ceremonies around it. This brought people closer together and started to purposely produce grain and experiment with farming. This is how beer eventually led to agricultural-based societies.
DeleteWith the transition from hunting and gathering to the discovered ability of being able to plant seeds people began to plant grains. With the wide spread of grains being grown, storage of the cereal grains was need and (by supposedly happy accident) beer was created. Unlike water, beer's alcohol content eliminated the rather unpleasant side effects that came with drinking the un-clean water of the time period, making the drinks popularity grow. Beer was now the drink of the masses, thus making grains needed to concoct it on high demand. With the time needed to ferment the grains to make the beer and the agricultural labor needed to harvest all the grains, society took a huge shift from the wandering hunter/gatherers to the formation of agricultural societies.
Delete2. Wine (June 27, 2014, 11:59pm)
ReplyDeleteHow did wine act to stratify society (be it by class, gender or religion)? Why was this the case? Is this something we still see in today's civilizations?
The culture that developed around wine led to a society more divided by socioeconomic status. The very origin of wine solidified the elite status of the beverage; the climate of Mesopotamia was not conducive to growing grapes and as a result, wine became an expensive import from other areas. Only the wealthy of the region could afford wine. When wine became more accessible to the public, socioeconomic divisions were still present; it wasn’t just about being able to afford wine anymore, it was about drinking the the sweetest wine, the rarest vintage, the grapes from the best region. Wine was available to the masses, but what kind of wine you drank still served to express your rank in society. At Roman banquets, each individual was served wine corresponding to their social elevation. The high-brow perception of the drink was heightened through its association with the thinkers and philosophers of Ancient Greece. The notion that beer-drinking was barbaric continued these perceptions as well. Today, these cultural perceptions still hold. Wine is seen as “classier” than its alcoholic counterparts (namely, beer). We still serve wine at dinner parties, as the Romans did, and the quality of the wine allows the guests to make assumptions about the wealth of their host. Just as it was in Mesopotamia, wine is certainly a more formal beverage than regular, sociable, down-to-earth beer.
DeleteSince its creation in Greece, wine has been considered the most formal and elegant of alcoholic beverages. In ancient times it was the most expensive drink, and only the wealthy had the financial means to afford wine and drink it in the same quantities that they had beer. This first distinction between who is able to afford wine and who is not (the very wealthy and the middle and lower classes) was one of the first signs of class differences; previously there had been a king or priest, and then the rest of the citizens, all of whom shared the same ranking. As wine production increased, it no longer mattered if you could afford wine, but where the wine was fermented, and later, how long the wine had been aged. It seems that the Greeks and Romans strove to create class differences; as soon as wine became accessible to the working class, they had to raise their standards to make sure they were drinking the best wine while the commoners were not. As the Romans came to power, they developed conviviums, drinking rooms similar to the Greek's symposium. The conviviums, however, took the symposium vibe of unity completely out of context; indeed, the purpose of the convivium was to define the different classes present by what quality of wine one was served.
DeleteEven today, wine is considered one of the most sophisticated drinks. While traveling to famed wine regions, tourists often tour vineyards, sampling the wine and discussing its "bouquet" or "robustness." In the grand scheme of things, the quality of wine is useless, but we still carry the association the Greeks did with it; that fine wine is the drink of intellectuals, philosophers, and the wealthy.
As early as 825 BC, wine drinking had developed into an elaborate and formal social ritual. Around this time, wine and the utensils used to drink it had become emblems of privilege, power, and prosperity. These ideals certainly spread to the rest of civilisation, and created more social levels. For instance, the Greek symposiums. These symposiums were a social gathering held strictly for high-class Grecian males to discuss politics, dance, and play games. For the Greeks, wine drinking became synonymous with civilization and refinement. Even down to the smallest detail; the type of wine and it’s age indicated how cultured you were. And, like the Greeks before them, Romans considered wine to be universal. It was consumed by both noblemen and slaves, however, the disparity between Roman society’s richest and poorest members was reflected by the contents of their wine goblets. Wine became the symbol of social differentiation; a mark of the wealth and status of the drinker. Today, wine is an easily accessible drink, to say the least. However, at any dinner party, you may hear the host boasting about the brand and year of their wine. It certainly doesn’t separate us socially, but it can still considered a minute symbol of wealth and culture.
DeleteWine has always been seen as a “superior drink” to all people, regardless of social status. Of course, in Mesopotamia, wine was a symbol of a higher class than the others due to the inaccessibility of the drink, however, even as time progresses and wine became more and more available to a wider variety of people, it is still seen as a superior drink to other drinks, such as beer. We even see this in today’s society. During a high-falutin party, the host would most probably serve wine, perhaps a more expensive version of the drink, in order to convey to their guests that this is a really high class party because wine is being served. Beer, on the other hand, would be served at a more casual social gathering place, to show that a guest can “kick back and relax” and enjoy a bottle of beer. While throughout the course of history, wine became more accessible to all social classes, it was still seen as a superior drink over others.
DeleteWine, created in Greece, always had it's meaning. Mesopotamia's climate was not meant for growing grapes, making it extremely difficult to transport this drink to other areas. Meaning, if you had this expensiveand tasty drink in your hands, your rank of royalty was at an ultimate high. In some of the earliest BC years, wine had already become a classy drink used in royal and formal social events but your level of power and wealth showed even more when you had it at these formal events. Thus, creating even more social levels in society. i.e. Greek syposiums (gatherings for top class Greek men to dance, eat, listen to music, etc...) Based on your place in society, you were served either the most expensive wine or the complete opposite. Meaning, these wines were something everyone could drink, even though different wines showed your place and how wealthy, royal and powerful you were. Still to this day, wine holds it's spot in history. Wine tastings, the art of wine making, and even the bottles that hold this magnificent drink, are all significant parts to our history and resemble the way it was used and treated in society back in the BC days.
DeleteThe earliest evidence of the production of wine can be traced back to the Zagros Mountains in the region that corresponds to modern Armenia and northern Iran. From there, wine making spread far and wide, and the separation of classes it created began to form. Wine was regarded as an elite drink in all of the civilizations that first cultivated it and even once it became a more universal drink, the seperation between poor and rich was still represented through the types of wine each class would drink. Wine consumption also separated those of different religions due to the importance of it in some religions and the insignificance of it in others. Wine became such an indicator of one's status because of the impact it made in culture, most notably in Greek culture, and the connection it had with one's influence and livelihood. Wine may not seem as important in today's society but it is still regarded as a sophisticated drink and the quality of wine is still seen as evidence of the wine owner's wealth.
DeleteWine helped stratify society with its expense. With wine being so expensive, only upper class and kings could afford the best of the best wines. The reason why the cost of wine was so high was because it had to be shipped long distances. In the Roman society, everyone drank wine but not all of it was the best of the best. The richest of the rich drank the Faustian Falernian, while the slaves drank a wine called Lora, which was hardly even considered wine. In today's society, we see that wine still can categorize people into the different levels of our society. For example, the rich still buy expensive bottles of the best wine and are willing to spend their money on wine tastings, different bottles of wine and glasses. Just like in the BC years. Wine set its stone on American history and will always be something that's stratifies society in many different ways
DeleteStarting in the ancient civilization of Mesopotamia, wine was always seen as a drink of the upper and superior class. Due to the intense climate and raging heat through the deserts, it made it impossible to grow grapes and vineyards, therefore causing all wine to have to be imported. Because of the expensive taxes on shipping and to transport the wine, only the wealthy class could afford to pay for it. This soon lead to a sign of superiority, and became a symbol of high auora, and class. This new tradition, set the course for all civilizations to come. This tradition of class and elegance is even seen in todays society. Wine can be seen at balls and weddings, while beer and other sorts of liquor can be seen at teenage parties and bars.
DeleteWine throughout time has always been a way to show of superiority and wealth. In greece wine was drunk by only the very wealthy, for they were the only people with money enough to afford it. As wine became slightly more accessible to the middle classes, wines standards were raised. To keep the barrier between the drinks of the wealthy and the drinks of the middle class, the consumption of wine was no longer just about who could afford the wine but about who could afford the sweetest wine, the richist wine. Because of the use of wine in religions, the drink became even more of a symbol, the use of wine in some religions separated out the others. These traditions of wealth and superiority followed wines path throughout the years and can still be found in today's society. Nowadays wine is easily accessible at your local grocery but host of parties can still be heard bragging about the age of their wine.
DeleteKing Ashurnasirpal was the first high-ranking Mesopotamian known to drink wine instead of beer at an elaborate palace party. Beer was still being consumed, however there was a new beverage being introduced. Wine was and still is a more expensive option but is also a display a wealth. During this time the wealthy would be seen drinking wine out of shallow gold bowls and the poor would have a concoction that could barely be called wine. To this day wine still proves wealth; if you are seen drinking an expensive bottle of wine you may be viewed as classy and wealthy as apposed to a cheap bottle of beer leaving the impression of being average. The question that comes to my mind is what makes Wine is a sign of wealth? This is because of the more difficult ingredients. Instead of a simple mixture of grains wine requires grapes and in a climate like Mesopotamia grapes are challenging to grow. They require more time and attention than grains making it a more difficult cultivation, which in return drives the price up. More valuable ingredients creates a more valuable product so it only makes sense the price would increase. The upper-class is not the only people to take interest in wine. When the bible story of how Jesus turned water to wine came around churches created a special ceremony providing wine to those who follow Christian beliefs as a form of Jesus's blood. Although wine has become just as common as beer wine still has a more classy feel to it compared to beer and will always have this division between the upper, middle,and lower classes.
DeleteAlong with their many other influences, the Greeks and Romans passed on the gift of wine, and the social structure that came with. Wine stratified society by being more expensive than the widely-renown beer, with varying prices corresponding with the various vintages. Whatever wine you carried and served reflected immensely on who you were, socially and in character. Mesopotamia's climate was not the exact fit for growing grapes, the ingredient for wine, making wine an import for many countries at the beginning of wine's reign. Of course, this would be more expensive than beer, which required a much easier crop to maintain: cereal grains. The wine one drank was a symbol of their wealth, especially seen with the Roman convivium, with the wine decreasing with the individuals' status. This can also be seen in the Greek symposion; although the whole party drank from the same kratar, the wine in the pottery contributed to the visitors' judgments of the host.
DeleteToday, we still see the impact of these two cultures. A lousy party containing poor college kids, just getting a start on life, will most likely have beer - the cheapest way for them to become intoxicated. This seemed barbaric to wine drinkers back then, and is now the laughable subject of the casual dinner party today. The dinner party takes from both the symposion and the convivium. The guests all drink more or less the same wine, the level of intoxication of each guest is judged, and the choice of wine symbolizes both the importance of the occasion, and the host's social status. Wine also holds class over beer by being said to have been turned from water by Jesus Christ. Although beer is no longer seen as completely barbaric, wine still is considered to be of more class, and is still more expensive.
Wine was a very expensive commodity and therefore rare among lower economic classes. Wine was a very labor intensive product to create. Wine required a perfect climate to grow grapes for the production of wine. Greece had the perfect climate for wine cultivation and production. Which they believed, because no other place at the time could cultivate wine, that it was symbolic of wines God given superiority, and therefore those who indulged were as well.
DeleteAs cost for wine lowered, symposiums (a wine drinking version of “mine’s bigger than your’s”) became popular for their displays of ones wealth and wine connoisseur status. Furthering the rift between classes, and the disparity between them, to become even more pronounced.
As the Greek empire fell to Roman domination, Greek culture was absorbed and Romans continued to practice wine snobbery.
This practice of product superiority continues to this day and not only with wine, but with nearly everything that is sold.
Designer clothing is advertised as superior in style and quality. The cars we drive have gained status as we have associated them with a specific materialistic and mechanical quality. I mean most people don't know the luxury difference between a Bentley and a Rolls Royce, they are essentially the same cars but, to a certain billionaire tier, there are worlds of difference.
Everything has status, even the food we buy has status. Walk down any given isle and you’ll find 15 different versions of the same food with different labels and drastically different costs, i.e. generic and brand name.
We want to feel individual. We want to feel that we are a very special snow flake among billions of snowflakes, and we have distinguished ourselves by separating the wealth, looks, race, of people to do so, creating the disproportionate wealth classes of people that exist in this financially and ethnically segregated world.
3. Spirits (July 11, 2014, 11:59pm)
ReplyDeleteWeigh the advantages and disadvantages of the use of spirits in the colonial world. Explain how you believe one is greater than the other.
The invention of distillation marked the beginning of the popularity of a newer, stronger alcoholic beverage. Various spirits - brandy, bourbon, rum, whiskey - were discovered at various times and in various places in the world. Spirits became particularly important to the colonial world, influencing all varieties of events. On the more uplifting side, spirits played an important role in the American fight for independence from the British. The large-scale production of rum in New England had become a lucrative business. Rum was made from molasses imported from the French islands, and the British, having disagreements with the French, decided to tax the imported molasses through the Molasses Act. When Sugar Act of 1764 strengthened the Molasses Act, it spurred the sentiments of “no taxation without representation.” Had rum not been such an important industry, the taxes would have remained lower, or nonexistent, and the talk of independence may not have arisen, or arisen when it did.
DeleteOn a more negative note, spirits also served a great purpose in beginning and continuing the slave trade. Spirits were valuable and in high-demand, and they became used as currency all over the world. The slave trade provided the Europeans an opportunity to trade their liquor for the human labor needed to produce sugar to produce more liquor. The popularity, value, and prestige of brandy all enabled the slave trade to continue.
Spirits serviced a variety of purposes, from instigating the American Revolution to popularizing the slave trade. Whether the advantages of independence outweighed the disadvantages of the oppression of an entire people is hard to say. The new American nation was built through the labor of slaves - a nation inspired by liquor, and built through the labor liquor bought. Liquor itself is neither inherently good nor evil, it is what people decided to do with it, and these two purposes to which liquor was an enabler are so vastly different that they remain difficult to compare.
Brandy, rum, scotch, bourbon; these drinks epitomized the colonial spirit (pun intended). Their hardiness, practicality, and frugality resonated with the beliefs of the colonists, and even planted the first seeds of revolution against Britain. It is difficult to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of spirits, as they benefited certain peoples and brutalized others, however it is safe to say that spirits were a major part of the transition from the Old World to the new one.
DeleteSpirits were originally designed as a medicinal beverage, but were usually consumed for pleasure. Their compact and intense alcoholic content made it ideal for traveling, as it would not spoil as quickly as wine or beer. This made it the chosen beverage of the first European explorers; it was often safer to drink than the water available to them. Once in the New World, the colonists used spirits as a bartering tool, as well as an enjoyable drink. Spirits also laid the foundations of rebellion against England; with the passage of the Sugar Tax and Molasses Act, the colonists became angry that they had no say in parliament, yet had to obey laws that devalued their spirits (literally, and figuratively!).
Unfortunately, spirits provided for the systematic abuse and oppression of several groups of people. The Golden Triangle (spirits, slaves, and sugar) depended heavily on alcoholic compensation; spirits were used to pay slave traders and sedate the slaves, who were deported to labor on sugar plantations, and the harvested sugar cane was used to make various spirits, and so the cycle continued. Over 60 million Africans were murdered by the slave trade, and specifically by the spirits that bought them. The Native Americans, as well, were abused by the colonists through spirits, among other things. The natives believed that the strong alcoholic content of spirits was designed to induce hallucinogenic sensations and images; a very important part of their culture. The Native Americans became dependent on the colonists for their spirits, and this allowed the colonists to gain dominance and force the natives from their homes.
I agree with Avocet on this one; it is difficult to choose whether spirits were advantageous or disadvantageous in the colonial world. For the colonists and Europeans it was certainly advantageous, but for the Africans and Native Americans it ushered in a new reign of horrific crimes against humanity. Cheers!
Distillation, tracing its origins back to Cordoba was the start of a new era of drink that retained a larger quantity of alcohol per drink opposed to natural fermentation of its sister beverages, beer and wine. This technique, especially performed on wine and eventually the by-products of molasses, received several names over the course of its popularity: aqua vitae, whiskey, brandy, kill-devill, rum, and spirits. Even with its rocky history, spirits have paved the way towards a more hearty and fiery drink.
DeleteSome advantages to spirits have to begin with all the properties the drink was used for: Brandy was an important form of currency between slavers and their clients. It was a strong alcoholic drink, but its abilities to strengthen one's body and fill it with new vigour held it in high esteem. Rum was especially popular with sailors, as it spoiled less easily, and was cheaper than beer or wine. The beverage also reduced scurvy due to its richness in Vitamin C. It also played a big role when the English discovered the New World in order to not only colonize their people, but to also be able to depend less on European goods and more on Virginia, one of their first colonies. This may not have been a realistic hope, but rum brought humans far into new territory and became a long-standing beverage in the foundations of North America.
Spirits were also very strong, and since distillation was a way around on the limit of alcohol in the beverage this meant people got drunk more easily. It became known as a drink prone to violence and brawls. Besides becoming drunk, spirits were a major factor in the use of slave labor. As it was, rum was tied closely to slave trading and the negotiations made among slavers, as well as the slave's main duty: to harvest sugar cane crops uses to create molasses therefore producing more spirits.
Though the disadvantages of producing and consuming spirits had long-term effects, the things the beverage created left an even larger footprint in our colonized world. We revolted for legal consumption, we discovered new territory, we found yet another form of currency and it had been a reliable beverage that led us out of the dark and into the light of a new era.
Spirits, in their own way, are largely representative of the New World and the people living at the time. The drinks were made cheaply, could be used as currency, could be stored for long journeys, and most importantly, were extremely potent. Drinks like rum and whiskey became popular in a time of exploration and hardship where people certainly needed a strong drink. As a result of the turbulent time of its creation, there were definite advantages and disadvantages associated with the drinks. Spirits, much like most drinks, were originally created for medicinal use. It was only after its creation that people began to use it as a recreational drink. Because of its strength, it was ideal for traveling- it took less of the drink to become intoxicated so the stores lasted longer, and a smaller amount was more valuable than other types of alcohol. Rum was cheap to make and it was produced using the left overs of sugar production, making it a prime candidate for production in the new world. Spirits were also used as forms of currency and were responsible for the opening of trade routes and the creation of relationships across cultures. Unfortunately, these new trade routes included trade with Africans who took the alcohol in exchange for providing slaves. These slaves were then forced to work on sugar plantations where they harvested the crop that would eventually become even more alcohol. The spirits were also used to manipulate slaves and the Native American populations, making them complacent and easier for Europeans to control. While the creation of the spirits came with good and bad consequences, I have to say that the good is greater than the bad. Spirits helped us explore the world and, once we had landed, they helped us deal with the harsh realities of new life. While I am not at all condoning the use of alcohol in the slave trade or as a manipulative force, I am not naïve enough to believe that those things would not have happened, with or without the use of spirits. So, despite the bad that comes with this type of alcohol, the lasting impact of the spirit is overwhelmingly good.
DeleteSpirits started out with good intentions. The drink began as a means of medicine, and regarded as a magical healing elixir. Arnald of Villanova and Raymond Lully were the creators of aqua vitae (or “the water of life”), and claimed that this drink could prolong life, improve memory, treat diseases, cure blindness, and even protect against the plague. Aqua vitae was widely accepted and praised as a miracle drink; and it’s no wonder. For aqua vitae was made of distilled wine, which has a far higher alcohol content than any drink that can be created by natural fermentation. So while this “water of life” swept Europe for it’s healing powers, most people ignored it’s medicinal benefits, and enjoyed it for it’s ability to intoxicate them quickly and easily. However, the use of grog in place of beer for sailors during the eighteenth century did help to prevent a wasting disease known as scurvy. Spirits became the cheapest drink to import, and unlike beer and wine, would not spoil in transit. One drink, in particular, became extremely popular and spread throughout the Caribbean and beyond. This drink is Rumbullion, later shortened to Rum. The downside was that it soon became an important tool of social control; Rum was given to newly arrived slaves, and used as a method of payment. Spirits provided a way for Europeans to trade a product for human labor. While spirits were a quintessential tool in the expansion of the new world, the cost at which it came is hard to debate. Overall, I do believe that the use of spirits was an advantageous one (if we look at it’s uses from a Eurocentric perspective).
DeleteDistillation, dating back to the fourth millennium BCE, found in northern Mesopotamia was a popularized technique that showed the world a refined and new range of drinks. When this distillation equipment was found, it was used to make perfumes. Not too long after, in the Arab world, distillation was added to wine in the 18th century. With the boiling point of alcohol being lower than water, adding distillation to wine made it a lot stronger, containing proportionately more alcohol and less water than the original liquid. This drink, also known as “aqua vitae” or “the water of life”, was the easiest and cheapest drink to transport. However, these drinks became such economic importance that their taxation and control helped form the course of our history. These healing elixirs were believed to have great advantages that could do things such as; preserve youth, cure paralysis, improve memory, cure blindness, and revive the heart. After “Charles the Bad”, a small ruler in northern Spain, got sick with paralysis and an insane fever, these doctors and scientists decided to soak this king’s sheets in aqua vitae, hoping the contact of this medicine would cure him. Soon to find out, after the king got engulfed in flames, this needed to have heavy precautions when being used as a medicine. Spirits had their advantages and became a piece of knowledge for studies and gave new exploration of drinks for people around the world. Eventually, aqua vitae’s appeal came not from its medical benefits, but from how easily it could get people intoxicated. Spirits also had its downsides. These drinks became a use of control, manipulation, and a way to wield the incoming African slaves and also became a use of payment for purchases, which led to even more dangerous intoxication. Overall, Spirits’ pros outweighed the cons with its easy transport, low expense, and it’s enjoyable use of a recreational drink.
DeleteSpirits in the colonial time were in great demand the strength of the liquor, how cheap it was, and the fact it didn't spoil fast made it desirable. Though it was first used for medical uses it became quite popular for recreational use. The use of spirits such as whisky, scotch, and brandy led to many great things, including but not limited to; the American Revolution (was one part of the spark of "no taxation with out representation" through the Molasses Act and the Sugar Act), medical uses ("aqua vitae" or water of life), and even grew to be a form of currency, transports easily, made early settlers more content, and could be made cheaply. Though these alcoholic beverages do come with a lot of down sides, from the way we used it to manipulate and oppress, and to encouraging slave routes. They were used as a form of payment for slaves, given to Native Americans to induce hallucinogenic sensations and making the Native Americans dependent of the colonist’s spirits which led to manipulation. If you look through out the history of spirits there is a blanket of oppression surrounding it.
DeleteI don't think that the advantages of this drink out weigh the disadvantages and vise versa because a drink is a drink it cannot be good nor evil, the drink itself has many good qualities such as how long it lasts and how cheap we can make it but it’s up to how we use it that determines who we are. I feel as though the advantages and disadvantages of the drink and the pros and cons of how we used it are too unalike to compare.
The use of Distillation in drinks has been around for ages and served many purposes. Though originally used to make stronger wine that was used as an [inaccurate] cure for just about everything, the distillation of drinks is a practise that has popped up numerously throughout history. It proves to be complicated to debate whether the harder liquor have left a negative or positive mark on the world because the argument varies per perspective, but it is safe to say that the distillation of drinks has most definitely left a mark.
DeleteWith their considerable higher alcohol content and there cheaper prices these distilled drinks replaced the beer on board ships. Soon sailors where mixing rum with water and lemon juice in attempts to fight off scurvy, an illness that served as a plague of sorts to sailors. The ability to fight of the disease and the fact that mixing rum with water fought of the rather nasty bacteria that hid in the water the sailors drank, helped eager sailors travel across the seas to get to the Americas. When colonize began to form the early settlers, with not much else going for them, turned to producing rum. Soon enough the manufacturing of rum spread throughout New England providing the Americas with an easy way to make money and the settlers with something to drink other than questionably drinkable water. As time went by and some rather unpopular acts popped up (e.g. the ever failing molasses act, the sugar act, and some other unfortunate acts that made the production of rums slightly more complicated) the favored drink of the Americas turned from rum to whisky. The production of this new drink helped colonize the newly found country and also provided a drink that could be produced without breaking any of the recently set acts.
On the more unfortunate side of things, spirits have a much higher alcohol content meaning even if you were poor you could get really drunk really fast. These new affordable beverages caused some problems seeing as intoxicated people tend to not make the smartest decisions and start up bar fights and the sorts. Not only did spirits cause an increase in brawls they also became a large part of the slave trade. When buying and trading slaves members of the trade would use spirts as a bartering chip, slaves were then bought to grow cane sugar (which creates molasses the main ingredient in rum), and slaves where even given spirts as a crappy form of a meal.
It would be hard to say whether the use of spirits was an advantage or a disadvantage to the colonization of the world. Though its use as currency in the slave trade and the increase in rebellion and violence brought on by the distilled drinks certainly are a mare on the spirit's existence the drinks certainly contributed positively to the world's colonization as well. The growing consumption of spirits helped us further explore the world and helped spur the rebellion between the Americas and the British empire. Overall the use of spirits and the debatable evilness of them could be argued on both sides, on the side of the Americans and Europeans their creation was a marvel to society but to the slaves and native americans there spread in consumption was a horrible disadvantage, it's all in the way you look at it. In the end its about how people used the drink not the drink itself and that's an argument that is so arguable different that it can hardly be compared.
Spirits, all in all, was a good product that turned awry, and what I mean by that is that it was originally used to be a good thing. It was used for medical purposes and it was a good product to use for medicine. It was cheap to brew and it did not spoil as quick as some other materials in medicine. To the average American colonist, it was basically a godsend.
DeleteHowever, people began to drink it outside of medicine, and that is where things went awry. Colonists began to use spirits as a mean of oppression to the slaves and to Native Americans. They would manipulate the Native Americans by getting them addicted to the drink and using that addiction to do their bidding. It created evil.
The use of spirits honestly cannot really be seen as too great of an advantage. Sure, it did help a lot with medicine, and it was quick and easy to make, but the amount of evil that it created, the oppression outweighs the advantages that it did provide.
The disadvantages of spirits in the colonial was very influential on the people. Spirits had a hand in the enslavement and the displacement of millions of people. Spirits lead to a small rebellion called the "Whiskey Rebellion". Subjugation of the indigenous culture of the people. An advantage of spirits in the colonial world was the American Revolution. Rum was one of the first things to be taxed in the Colonies. It led to the slogan "No taxation without representation". After America became independent from the British colonial control, they started to move westward. The supply of molasses was disrupted due to the war, which was what made a key ingredient in Rum. It was also a maritime beverage which was very expensive to move in land. Many of the Americans that where moving westward where of the Scotch and Irish origin. They has experience in grain. Which help people switch from Rum to Whiskey. It could be made anywhere also did not depend on ingredients that could be taxed or blockade. Thus it made it cheap and everyone could purchase it. Over all the disadvantages and cons out weigh the good.
DeleteLiquid Courage, the go-go juice that inspires the guts of a shy-guy to stand on bars and shout out drunkenly the loves and aspirations of his colonial heart. That Hard Stuff that straightens the back and is sold to remedy the lack of hair on ones chest. The warm friend that waits at home after a hard days work in the field. That Shine we are given when the spirits are low. Liquor, Spirit, Aqua Vitae, Serum, The Poison, all names we have given distilled liquor that was the fuel for curiosity in colonial times.
DeleteIn general everything should be used in moderation. I do not believe that strong spirits are strictly evil or good. It is merely up to the user and the atmosphere in which it is consumed that dictates the perception of this drink. And when this drink is judged in the context of Colonial times, I have a hard time finding an argument of anything good.
Hard Liquor, rum and whiskey in particular, have a terrible history in Colonial time, as it devastated the lives of thousands of people. It was used for trickery, an agent for addiction, and a way to gain the servitude of Africans and Native Americans, forcing dependency upon them and those who supplied it. In that dark history of the drink, where spirits were traded for the Golden Triangle, I would say that it is a terrible thing. Spirit only ruins the lives of those who overuse and abuse the liquid. But, there is another side to this drink. A drink that inspired the first paragraph of this response. The side that is a catalyst for laughter and a jolly time. The side that inspired western cultures curiosity and courage to journey west.
But, that colonial curiosity to journey and find new frontiers needed a way of financing and hard liquor was found to be very advantageous. Liquor proved to be an effective way of funding the colonial expansion, and resulted in the use of distilled liquor for the purchasing of human labor, which is that bad side of liquor I mentioned earlier. Too often was hard drink abused and used maliciously, and the negative reproductions of this hard alcohol in colonial times remains today seen in the thousands still dependent upon alcohol.
And so, in my opinion and in the context of colonial times, spirits are evil and do more harm than good.
Spirits provided a long lasting, compact, and easily transportable form of alcohol that also had medical uses. In Western Europe the production of spirits encouraged the spirit of learning due to the translation of knowledge of distillation from Arabic to Latin. Rum production was responsible for the thriving economy of New England as well as the sharp increase in slave labor. The taxes Britain set against the colonies on spirits made smuggling socially acceptable, which undermined the respect for British law, and led to the revolution. Spirits also were used to subjugate the Native Americans as well as other indigenous cultures. So basically, spirits benefited white people and caused suffering for millions of people of color. Although the benefits white people gained from spirits were pretty great, nothing can compare to the suffering the slaves and Native Americans experienced, so the disadvantages spirits brought far outweighed the advantages it brought.
DeleteWith the introduction of many spirits in the colonial world, it exclusively caused many advantages and disadvantages. One advantage is that is could be made cheaply and be used as a form of currency. In fact, it was originally used for medical purposes, unlike its main consumption use today. Also, with their very high alcohol content, spirits began replacing beer on boats. In 1740, citrus juice (usually lemon or lime juice) was added to watered-down rum to prevent scurvy, a terrible disease that killed thousands of sailors due to a Vitamin C deficiency. This sparked an in flux of the consumption of spirits, which eventually was brought to the Americas. All of this was positive for Europeans, but definitely not mostly not for the rest of the world.
DeleteOver 60 million Africans were brought over as slaves because of all of this new liquor. This caused a lifetime of suffering and depression. Not only did these people suffer, but it put a permanent stain on American history forever. Also, when the explorers reached America, the spirits not only made the colonists more aggressive to the Native Americans, but they also wanted the beverage as well. They believed that the drink had special properties, such as hallucinations, so the Europeans supplied it. This gave the Europeans another level of power and superiority, so they could "re-locate" them.
Although Europeans received a surplus of wealth and explorative attitudes, it doesn't compare to the amount of death and suffering the African and Native Americans faced. This is why I personally believe that the disadvantages of spirits, such as rum and whisky, outweigh the positive effects.
Spirits were first introduced to the colonial world as a form of medicine. A medicine with miraculous healing powers from illnesses such as: blindness, paralysis, memory lose, the plague, etc. Having one form of medicine that helped/ cured all different illnesses was shocking for this time and for the people. Having less of the population suffer from serious illnesses, like the ones previously described, helped population growth. Spirits also provided personal advantages to the colonial people. Spirits were cheap making them easily accessible to everyone. They were also safer to drink then the water available due to the distillation process the spirits had to undergo. However, with the advantages there are also disadvantages.
DeleteSpirits such as rum or whiskey contain a much higher alcohol content than beer or wine therefore people were able to get drunk in a shorter amount of time causing drunken outrages with dangerous altercations. Spirits also led into the slave trade which is a horrific part of our history. Owners were mean and the slaves were not treated fairly and sometimes even worse than normal due to the amount of liquor the owner consumed causing them to belligerent. I would never support the slave trade however, I would have to believe this part of our history was going to happen with or without the extra alcohol. I believe the use of spirits in colonial times was definitely an advantage. It helped keep people healthy, happy, and drunk. Allowing population expansion to set up the world we have today.
Spirits. the drinks that make my extended family sing Christmas carols past the roof, were discovered by a process known as distillation. This was a technique that was used in BCE Mesopotamia, but later was refined by the eighth century Arab scholar Jabir ibn Hayyan. This process (originally used with wine, but was shortly tried with other known drinks) made various drinks known to the world throughout history. These drinks include: whiskey, brandy, rum, grog, mescal, pulque, and many more.The distillation, or the repeated process (rectification), made the alcohol more potent in known drinks.
DeleteSpirits started out with pure intentions. They were consumed and used for their believed healing powers. One smight have used various spirits to balnce out the four "humors" of the body: blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile.
One particular drink was the spark in America's Fourth of July fireworks - rum. Rum was made by fermenting the leftover product of sugar can harvesting, which was known as molasses. New England colonists imported molasses from France to make their own rum, causing the British to enforce laws and taxes on trade. A Great Britain Rule free country was the chaser for America.
While rum created advantages to the colonists and others, it greatly accompanied the rise of slavery. It was both used in currency for buying slaves, and intoxicating the slave owners for better deals. The over-intoxication was also used to appropriate the Native Americans' lands. With this said, the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. Yes, the drinks helped our country be what it is today, but it also caused the stain of slavery and stolen land on history that still haunts us today.
4. Coffee (July 18, 2014, 11:59pm)
ReplyDeleteHow did coffee contribute to the advancement of democratic ideals? Does our current fascination with designer coffee fit into the advancement of democratic ideas today? Explain.
Coffee, or coffeehouses rather, greatly contributed to the advancement of democratic ideals. From their beginnings in various parts of Arabia, coffeehouses were used as places to gather and discuss philosophy, politics, science, or even just gossip. The introduction of coffeehouses to England and France fostered a new intellectual culture. Thinkers and politicians would gather to deliberate new political movements; the Enlightenment thinkers - Rousseau, Locke, Voltaire - discussed and popularized their radical ideas of equality and freedom in the forums of coffeehouses. The French Revolution “literally began at a café” (Standage 170). In France, coffeehouses promoted equality through their allowance of both men and women to enter and partake in coffee and discussion. In England, the free press was encouraged, and the circulation of information was abundant (Standage compares their coffeehouses to the internet today). “Coffeehouses were centers of self-education, literary and philosophical speculation, commercial innovation, and… political fermentation” (Standage 157).
DeleteOur current fascination with designer coffee does not hold parallels with the coffeehouse obsession that led to the democratic ideas of the Age of Reason. Today, the allure of designer coffee is more comparable to the status the Greeks or Romans sought through their wine. Starbucks, for example, has successfully branded their company in such a way that it is seen as exceedingly fashionable to drink their products; drinking Starbucks is the beverage equivalent to owning a name-brand designer bag. As the Greeks and Romans sought to solidify their social status by consuming more expensive, prestigious wines, we do the same by drinking name-brand coffees. While the coffeehouses of the 17th and 18th centuries fostered the foundations of modern democratic thought, our coffeehouses today are primarily for what their names suggest: drinking coffee.
Since its known origins in Arabia and through the years of its descent as a top drink, lasting through the Age of Reason, the Enlightenment Period, and the start of the French Revolution, coffee became the the first drink that opposed the physical and mental effects on the body. It stood out like a black sheep, sharpening one's senses rather than muddling them, and this was the result of the sudden growth of coffeehouses in the 1650s. Not only was it an enjoyable drink, but coffee also had a large impact on democratic ideals. As coffee flourished, so did the coffeehouses and their uses; one would visit a coffeehouse for updates on a variety of locals and foreign news, a place to "chat with other patrons, strike business deals, or take part in literary and political discussions" (pg 152). Gossip, public opinions, politics, speculation, all took place under these where businessmen, musicians, and philosophers shared much and more over steaming cups of coffee. In particular, philosophical ideals were brought into play of which directly influence our views of the epitome of a democratic society. John Locke, Jean-Jacques, and especially Voltaire and their ideas of what government should entail, were discussed in coffeehouses and sparked the flame of Enlightenment, such as the French Revolution. When the news of their only confident grasp in the national assembly had crumbled, French civilians banded together to storm the Bastille (much like we did in our freshman year), all originating in the popular get-together: a coffeehouse,
DeleteCoffee now is still sparking intrigue in democratic ideals. Particular brands have made way: Java, Starbucks. But most importantly, their value is still upheld. Coffee shops are still fashionable meeting places, or reliable locations where a person can wake themselves up with a steaming cup of coffee. It's so popular in fact, that its brand names have secured a place in a variety of ages, especially the popular "white girl post" of every Starbucks latte or cold coffee beverage. Either way, the drink is still enjoyed to inspire and spark some of the most interesting ideals of society today, whether in a coffeehouse, or at home.
Coffee gained its power because of the fact that it was unlike any drink that had been popularized before. This was a drink that helped people work, that improved efficiency and made people happier and it took the Western World by storm. During the Enlightenment it provided fuel for thinkers who consumed it ardently and it supplied an excuse for discourse. The symposiums of ancient Greece evolved into the British coffee house, a place where men would get together to discuss politics, science, and philosophy. Much like its Greek counterpart, these coffee houses were responsible for a great deal of new thought and progression- because of the lack of alcohol, the conversations at coffee houses were often more fruitful. The atmosphere of the coffee houses, one of alertness and camaraderie , served to facilitate ideas and forward thinking and set about the roots of modern science as well as revolution. Coffee houses were places that you could find like minded people, people who were just as dissatisfied with the ways of the world as you. These coffee houses are the places where great speakers inspired people, moving them to take up a new hobby or start a rebellion- a fact seen in the start of the French Revolution. Coffee was cheap and it was an equalizer- all men were equal in a coffee shop and all were welcome to take part in the exchange of ideas, thus you had a more democratic discussion and a more democratic view of the world. The interconnectedness of these coffee establishments also furthered the spread of ideas- thanks to runners who related the gossip of one coffee house to another, words and concepts spread like wildfire, furthering discussions and spreading talk.
DeleteWhile the concept of the coffee house remains to this day, our approach to the drink has changed. The very idea of designer coffee seems perpendicular to its original purpose. Where as coffee was once an equalizer, the creation of name brands turns it into more of a statues symbol than anything. At the same time, the original coffee houses were more about the business conducted inside of them, rather than the taste of the coffee itself. Where once there was open discussion, there is now a drive by to-go lane.
Although a dark time for Europe, the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries were a time of great advancement in the Arab world. Mathematics, astronomy, literature, and art were the topics of many conversations, and the first universities were started in the middle east. Here, most likely in Yemen, the coffee bean was discovered, eaten, and boiled with water to create the meaningful drink we know and cherish, today.
DeleteCoffee's journey to Europe coincided with a huge turning point in European history; the enlightenment. European philosophers, scientists, and mathematicians were attempting to break from the classical teachings of Greeks and Romans, and coffee bridged the gap between the wine-drinking, classical cultures, and the new coffee-drinking, modern lifestyle. Coffeehouses were places that allowed people to share and improve their ideas with others that shared the same interests or ideologies as themselves; most recognized are the scientific, financial, and political achievements, developed in the coffeehouse. Democracy is based on the principle that everyone is equal under law, and that everyone has a say in the law; the basis of coffeehouses all over England. Although French coffeehouses were heavily regulated by the monarchy (coffeehouses were considered hotbeds of gossip and rebellion), many people found ways to work around the law. In fact, the French Revolution was instigated in a coffee shop!
Just as the philosophers of the seventeenth century, we, today, are obsessed with coffee, albeit in a much different way. While coffee was once a symbol for lucidity and advancement, it has evolved into the mascot of the procrastinator. The idea of pulling an all-nighter to complete a project assigned weeks before, is almost romanticized in high school culture, and coffee adds to this image; it is sexy to show up to school with a mug of coffee and dark under-eye circles and complain to friends about going to sleep around four in the morning. So while the good folks of the enlightenment used coffee as a tool of democracy, today we use it to haphazardly finish projects, and motivate us through the work week.
Coffee quickly became known for it’s ability to promote sharpness and clarity of mind. It is for that reason that it became the preferred drink of intellectuals. Those who drank coffee instead of alcohol began their day alert and stimulated, and therefore, the quality and quantity of their work greatly improved. However, it was the coffeehouses that promoted the spread and advancement of democratic ideals. Coffeehouses became a popular venue for academic discussion, commercial innovation, philosophical speculation, and news (hand in hand with, of course, gossip). These gatherings served as a network of information, that quickly spread from one establishment to the next.
DeletePresently, coffee remains the drink that people choose to meet and discuss over. We still exchange information and gossip over a nice cup of coffee, or decide to finish an assignment in the calm atmosphere of a coffeehouse. Yet, even today, coffee can serve as a status symbol. No respectable business person would think to get coffee from UDF, when there is the option of Starbucks- But why stop at Starbucks when you could get an even more expensive cup from an obscure coffeehouse down the road! It’s interesting to note people’s elitism when it comes to a beverage, but perhaps we still think of it as we did so many years ago, as “the drink of intellectuals”.
Coffee houses in England were places where you could speak freely and doubled as centers for learning and intellectual discussions, gaining the nickname 'penny universities'- meaning for the cost of a cup of coffee, a penny, you could join the discussion. Many famous persons frequented coffee shops such as Sir Isaac Newton, Edmond Halley, and Robert Hooke. In France you could not speak so freely and there were strict regulations on the freedom of the press, but none the less were visited by Enlightenment figures such as Voltaire and Rousseau. Despite the restrictions of freedom in France, both coffee houses in England and France "were meeting places for intellectuals and ... centers of Enlightenment thought." (Standage 167). Through the coffee houses ideas of democratic and Enlightenment ideal began to spread through out the countries, gaining favoritism, which in turn advanced those ideals and began to put them into action. In fact the French Revelation was started inside of a coffee house by Camille Desmoulins.
DeleteOur current fascination with designer/name brand coffee doesn't quite fit into the democratic ideals today. Though those in America, and other countries, are operated with little to no government interference and you are allowed to speak freely, both of which are Enlightenment ideas, but those go for all businesses. Therefore, our current fascination of designer coffee does not fit into the democratic ideals of its forerunners because the fact that they are name brand has nothing to do with the democratic ideals of which you are referring to. Instead, as Avocet mentioned, they more align with the Romans and Greeks use of wine as a status symbol
Coffee contributed significantly to the ideas of democracy and so much of what we call the modern world. When coffee began to spread into the European countries, (from the Arab world), it flourished as an alternative to alcohol from the stimulant properties vs. the sluggish and impairing effects from beer, wine, and spirits. Coffeehouses started showing up in London and Paris, which proved to be powerhouses for political gossip, scientific development, business news, and various other revolutionary topics. Many different kinds of people started meeting there regularly to discuss these topics. They ranged from the common man to the highest of royals in the British and French monarchies. When enlightenment ideas started to spread throughout France, coffeehouses began to be the center of all this thinking. People discussed ways that the government was failing to meet their needs, so they decided to overthrow it. Then, on July 12th, 1789, in a local coffeehouse known as Café de Foy, the French revolution started, which promoted democracy over the previous monarchy. This paved the way for many other countries to have their own revolutions and greatly advanced democratic ideals.
DeleteNow, today coffee is known for being "designer" and the drink is advertised at Starbucks and many other places for being of the elites. This causes an even wider gap in-between the classes of society and this directly clashes with the idea of democracy with everyone being treated equally and having an equal say in government, with showing that coffee-drinkers are superior. So no, I don't think that current ideas of coffee fits into the advancement of democratic ideas today.
DeleteCoffeehouses gained the name ‘penny universities’ because of their tendency to be full of intellectual discussions, where many famous people (and averages Joe’s) went to voice opinions and ideas to others, the penny part of the name referring to the price of a cup of coffee. In France there were restrictions on what you could and couldn’t say in these houses, while in England you could speak freely without the risk of persecution. Despite the difficulty in France the Enlightenment/democratic ideals expressed by patrons was gaining popular opinion, in both England and France, so much so that the French Revolution was started in a coffeehouse. The coffeehouses played an important role in the spread and advancement in democratic ideals.
In this day in age name brand or ‘designer’ coffee shops don’t symbolize the democratic ideals that their 16th and 17th century predecessors did. The designer coffee is more of a show of status in today’s society rather that a sign of intellectual discussion, though business meetings and study sessions do tend to have coffee available during them
DeleteCoffee, a drink that promoted sharpness and clarity of thought, became one of the most preferred drinks of scientists, intellectuals, merchants, and clerks--otherwise known as "information workers". While coffee berries were chewed for their effects, making them into a drink became a Yemeni invention. They called it "the wine of Islam". Coffee had the same "alert" feeling that any alcoholic drink would give someone, yet it reduced the rate at which alcohol was removed from the bloodstream. This was the ideal beverage everyone was looking for. Coffee was sold by cups on the street, in the market square, and then eventually became something sold in coffeehouses where people met, drank coffee, and talked about everything that came to their mind creating intellectual conversations all while having their favorite drink in their hand. This contributed and expressed the advancement of democratic ideals because it gave people fascination and allowed their bodies to stay on a conversation for long periods of time. The coffeehouses, or "penny universities", were a huge, symbolic way to spread the advancement of our democracy. Still to this day, these meeting places are everywhere, still representing how well it symbolizes democracy.
As for the designer cups of coffee symbolizing our democratic advancement, they don't express it as well as the 16th and 17th century did. Popular coffeehouses today, are ways to allow friends, family, and business people to meet and discuss. Drinking the designer coffee itself with its seasonal drinks and new flavors still got the people talking even though it represents status and popularity more than democratic ideals.
Since its beginning coffee, or more so coffee houses have been used as a place to socialize. In the original coffee houses in the Middle East where known as places to gather and gossip, in fact this became so popular that government officials saw coffee houses as a threat, even going as far as banning them in Mecca. As coffee made its journey to Europe the trend of coffee houses spread with it. The gossip began to evolve and soon enough coffee houses became the place to spread ideas. During the enlightenment period coffee houses became the place to go to discuss your theories on inverse square law, rebellion, and spend copious amount of time arguing over books and ideals. Democratic ideals where what coffee houses practically spewed, with the idea that everyone was equal in a coffee house, everyone got a say about what they believed in. Ideas about how the world works and how it should be run the main dission topic where debated for countless hours, there energy supplied by the famed drink. Coffee houses where the birthplaces of many democratic revolutions, be it big or small. The French Revolution is even said to have, “Literally began at a Cafe,” (Standage 170) despite the careful regulation of the French empire.
DeleteToday you can go to a coffee house and see business people having meetings over there complicated frappe orders and college students hastily writing term papers with their lattes precariously placed next to their laptops. Coffee houses are still a place to socialize, though a far of comparison from the elaborate cafes that spawned ideas of revolution. Though our current fascination with brand names coffees is a more recent ordeal, far more like the social class workings of wine then the coffee houses of the enlightenment area. Our deming of the tastiness of starbucks over ready made coffee sets the caffeine riddled drink on a pedestal of class systems and social standards, much different from the idea of every man being equal. Despite all the hype for name brands and fancy blends, coffee houses have stayed as a place to gossip and interact throughout the years.
Coffee became the preferred drink of scientists, intellectuals, merchants, and clerks, all of whom performed mental work, due to the belief that it promoted sharpness of clarity and thought in turn increasing the quality and quantity of work. The first coffeehouses emerged in London during the rule of Oliver Cromwell and went on to flourish. Coffeehouses were seen as a more respectable meeting place than taverns and were embraced as centers of gossip, political debate, and satirical discussion. They played a key role in the accession of King Charles II, which is ironic because they posed a threat against his authority later. This is due to the freedom of speech and protests coffeehouses encouraged. Charles II became threatened by this and released a proclamation calling for the end of coffeehouses but his proclamation was completely ignored, undermining his authority. Coffeehouses promoted the age of reason, the financial revolution in London, and the revolution in France, because they provided and environment where news, information, and ideas could be spread forming a unique bridge between private and public worlds. Enlightenment ideas, which laid the foundation for modern democracy, were birthed in coffeehouses where social differences were left at the door. The Encyclopedie by Denis Diderot and Jean Le Rond d’Alembert, which came to be seen as the definitive summary of Enlightenment thinking, was literally compiled in a coffeehouse. Our current fascination with designer coffee does not promote the same type of atmosphere that the coffeehouses used too. It is more aligned with the way ancient wine used to, and still does, represent a symbol of status. Coffeehouses today may still be used as a meeting place for discussion but they are incomparable to the one’s that started revolutions.
DeleteThe designer cup off coffee now is fun it has a bunch of different flavors to choose from, it no longer just black coffee. As a government there is no color border or gender border. Eight years ago we elected our first African-America president. The same year a women was running for it as well. With the discovery of coffee beans lead to the construction of coffee house. With these coffee house people talked about matters trivial and profound. Still to this day people meet for coffee to discuss matters such as, politics, business. In Seattle is home to some of the worlds largest software and internet firms. It also home to Starbucks the worlds largest coffee chain. Still today coffee is a part of business meetings, part of discussion of political ideas and business ideas.
DeleteOh this was such a great chapter, probably because it was the one drink I actually use, in-fact I’m into my third cup as I write today. Anyways, the question is about Democracy and how coffee was a catalyst for the democratic ideas that emerged from the enlightenment period. This chapter was actually an AP question on the English Exam, how exciting!
DeleteUnder one roof, where upon entrance status class would disseminate and through coffees energizing characteristics, an explosion of debate would occur among the varied classes on the latest democratic ideas that were being written by the likes of Voltaire, John Locke and Rousseau, who were also inspired by the magical effects that coffee has.
Papers of all sorts were freely written and sold in the coffee houses giving the java drinking men much “free conversation” that helped feed their fiery desire for debate. Radical ideas were spawned in these coffee houses. A quote from this book on page 157 perfectly sums up the importance of coffee to democracy “Coffeehouses were centers of self-education, literary and philosophical speculation, commercial innovation, and, in some cases, political fermentation”
Todays coffee houses have a separation from society and segregate class. Coffee is sold to encourage a sense of stature and belief that the designer coffee is superior and therefore those who consume are just as well. Starbucks, specifically, has a customer base that believes because they are drinking overpriced, burned, mass marketed coffee, they are superior. I’m not saying its everyone who drinks at Starbucks, but for arguments sake…
Todays designer coffee is absent of all the democratic ideals that first jumpstarted from the support of the drink. It is more disgusting than a cup of pumpkin chia latte (the worst drink the coffee giant sells) to see coffee, the drink that inspired community among the classes, is now purchased to gain status and momentary belief that the user is superior to all those basic non grande super frappe whipped coffee drinkers out there.
Once coffee obtain popularity and coffee houses began to form people started socializing. Although women were not welcome into the coffee houses, men of all different social statuses were. It didn't matter what your financial situation was as long as you had enough money to purchase the coffee you were welcomed into the house. Inside the coffee house was a way of finding out all sorts of information from a persons personal views, to the city or world news, and even business deals. Just by walking into a coffeehouse you are put into the middle of several conversations.
DeleteWith all the different social classes it was be expected that there wouldn't be much discussion at all, but coffee brought out the best in people. If someone was in need of someone to talk to a coffee house was the go to location and many were willing to lend the ear. This exchange is how democratic ideas advanced.
In this environment people felt comfortable to express their opinions on any given subject including politics. The fear of being oppressed started to fade, people felt united, and like their thoughts mattered. This new sense of self importance is what started the move to democracy. People stopped taking no for an answer and wanted to be represented in politics instead of being told what they can and can't do. For example, when coffee was first brought onto the scene many were spectacle. Some coffeehouses were shut down, however this didn't stop people from finding a way to get their fixing of coffee.
Coffee houses still maintain the same concept as in the past but now the people have changed. Name brands have become a big part of our lives rather its purses, clothing, or coffee everyone wants the name to go with the product. For example many are willing to pay around five dollars daily because of the name. So many people have become this way that many coffee houses like Starbucks have become overcrowded. The crowds resulted in a sense of rush instead of relaxation therefore cutting out the time for socializing. Coffee houses have developed drive thru or in and out places where you get your coffee and go. The only person you feel the need to talk to is the one that takes your order because of how many people are rushing around making democratic advancements much less likely to take place.
Coffee, the "drink of soot" was primarily consumed to make one more alert. This Arabic drink, also known as the "wine of Islam," became a staple drink for many inhabitants of Europe once coffeehouses were established. With this new and safe alternative to alcohol, "Western Europe began to emerge from an alcoholic haze that had lasted for centuries" (Standage, 136). Coffee was seen as a more respectable, intellectual drink than it's alcoholic predecessors, bringing those who drank it together in coffeehouses. Such establishments were centers of gossip, stock market deals, scientific and philisophical endeavors, and political debates. Certain coffeehouses soon became known for which of these they most dealt with.
DeleteCoffeehouses helped ensure democratic ideals by issuing equality. In London, any man of any social status was allowed in a coffeehouse. Leaving the status at the door, was a customary practice. Taking it further, women were served coffee in French establishments. Anyone in a coffeehouse also had freedom of speech, a democratic ideal, and this freedom was untouchable by kings.
Nowadays, coffeehouses are only minorly the same. Yes, you may have a business meeting or date at a coffeehouse every once in a while, but these establishments are mainly used for the quick grab of a morning coffee and go. Socializing at a coffeehouse is nowhere near as common as it once was, some only stopping to converse while their drink is being made.
Our fascination with designer coffee does not support democratic ideals, especially those dealing with equality. In the olden days, anyone could walk into a coffeehouse regardless of social status. Today, with the rise of designer coffee, we have made coffee one of the most expensive drinks. For example, there is a homeless man who sits outside of Coffee Emporium from time to time. I believe his name is Andre. Andre will read your zodiac sign and facts about it, and asking for merely three dollars, the price of a small hot chocolate or coffee. We have made coffee so lavish and expensive, that the lower class cannot afford it. Instead of coffeehouses being the leisure place for all like they once were, the prices have become higher than bars that serve large amounts of beer or spirits for the same price as a tall at Starbucks. With the rise of designer coffee, there has been a decline in the equality of coffeehouses.
5. Tea (July 25, 2014, 11:59pm)
ReplyDeleteHow did tea affect the economic and political aspects of world power? What kinds of resources have this same kind of power today?
Though the Dutch were the first to commercially import tea into Europe, their position was quickly usurped and expanded upon by the British. China, hesitant though it was to trade with foreign nations, had allowed the British to establish a trading post in Canton, and trade boomed as the British demands for tea increased. The formation of the East India Trading Company heralded a new era of British economic domination; the company had a monopoly on trade with China, and, understanding their importance to British economic livelihood, the government allowed the company more and more political power. Through the tea trade, Britain elevated itself as the supreme world power.
DeleteOil today is a resource that countries would be willing to fight wars over. Oil has became an integral part of our industrialized societies, namely, for transporting us. As the primary source of oil, the Middle East holds a great power over other nations where the demand is great, but the available natural resources don’t include the mass of oil that they have.
Tea caused quite a stir in the Western World and it can be traced to several aspects of political and social life in Europe. Part of its power came from where it was grown- China, a land that we had very little exposure to. Tea was exotic, it was foreign, it was civilized, and because of this it was in demand. The British East India Company was created to deal with this new trade outlet and it grew immensely in size, eventually becoming responsible for the economic power of the nation. This in turn made way to corruption that spread to politics, a tale too commonly told. Tea came to impact political decisions, with acts dedicated to it in order to keep the British East India Company profiting. The British desire for tea fueled its relationship with China, creating a trade deficit as imports increased. The self-sufficient Chinese had no desire for European goods so the British struggled to pay in silver, an issue that was remedied with the highly unethical sale of opium.
DeleteWhen the British eventually learned to make tea in their colonies, it weakened the strength of the Chinese.
The power of tea could be likened to modern day things like precious metals and stones, water, and nuclear weapons. Precious metals and stones are items representative of wealth and power and today people will go to great lengths to mine and create them. Water, especially in drier climates is a scarce resource that people have been and will be prepared to go to war over, much like tea. Nuclear weapons are much like tea in that only a few countries are able to produce them and yet, they allow almost absolute freedom. China was able to completely control and monopolize its trade with other countries because it was the only place that sold tea and, in the same vein, nuclear weapons have been used as a way to establish dominance and power in the world.
Tea was a beverage that was transferred from one successful enterprise to another. With the constant fluctuation in world power in trading and goods production in Europe, the Middle East, and China, Britain became the dominating source in the end. It is believed that tea first made its mark in China as early as 2737 BCE, as the drink first made its mark there and was highly produced until the 1550s and onward. And while it spread around Europe along with its rumour of sophistication and remedial properties, tea became a long-standing drink in Britain. This was the birth of the famous British East India Company who grew from its small business into a massive powerhouse that gained government control and was known to be so large that it often closed any competing businesses who sold a single beverage: tea. It even outsourced China which began its eventual downfall. With Britain's hand in India's cloth textiles in the late 1700s and its increased industrialization, Britain was becoming a major world power. With the future opium trade between the British East India Company and China that shook China to its foundations, and the expansion into new territories, Britain rose to great economic and political power.
DeleteWe can look at oil for example to compare to the tea extravaganza in Britain. Oil companies to this day majorly affect any political or economic growth, as they have much influence over many aspects of business concerning imports and exports in oil. Because it is a product that millions of people rely on (even if it's not as satisfying as tea), oil can easily determine a country's growth or decline. We might perhaps look at iPhones in the same light; their innovation, once too expensive is affordable to a large amount of people. It's value has been plundered just as tea was smuggled, and with the iPhone, Apple's profits have soared and increased economic power exponentially.
The pattern the spread of tea follows is not so different than that of most of the beverages discussed in this book: discovered and perfected in an Eastern culture, reserved for the aristocracy but trickles its way down the social hierarchy, eventually making its way to Europe and the Americas. Tea, however, went a step farther. While European powers enjoyed wine, coffee, and the like, they, Britain in particular, became absolutely fascinated with tea. First considered a rare commodity, the British tea addiction drove the country's imperialist rampage to even greater heights than before; tea trade with China increased (legally and illegally), and the East India Company held the greatest power in the British colony of India, which was exploited for tea in an attempt to decrease dependence on Chinese imports. British culture, revenue, and happiness depended on tea.
DeleteThus, tea itself became the world power. Economically, tea imports and exports were a large and complicated part of the global market, connecting China, India, Britain, and America. With the British Industrial Revolution, the transition from leaf to tea became easier and economically efficient for British companies. Even with upsets caused by American boycotts of British products, the British tea industry flourished and, indeed, held much power over the economic and political decisions made by the government.
A consequence of the economic power that tea wielded, was the Chinese opium addiction. In an attempt to gain economic independence from China's tea exports, the British "accidentally" introduced opium to the empire. The results were disastrous; the economic, social, and political infrastructure crumbled, and the entire civilization dissolved. To put it simply, tea changed the direction of world history. The beverage, with its various stipulations and taxes, caused the American Revolution, the demise of the Chinese empire, and the first seeds of Indian rebellion against the British.
In modern times, oil is the commodity in demand. Countries with easy access to oil are among the wealthiest, and hold great power over the global market. An up and coming market is that of technology and technological advances; the most well known firm being Apple. The race to create the newest and fastest technology available is a popular, and one that will determine world power in the future.
Tea provided a basis for the widening of European trade with the East. The British East India Company was the commercial organization that quickly became the tool of trade and expansion. And total behemoth of power. At the height of the organization, the company generated more revenue than the British government. In turn, this gave the British East India Company a direct influence over the most powerful nation at the time.
DeleteToday, this power is almost directly matched with that of valuable natural resources (such as oil and precious metals). With Globalization spread across the world, the scarcity of these natural resources has led to a race to obtain them. The nations that do possess these resources have a superlative power over both economic and political aspects of the the world.
Tea has influenced industries in multitude of countries. From its birth in China, tea became a highly requested beverage. When Europe got word of the new drink the production of tea increased. Belgium started teas commercialized routes in Europe but soon the British empire seized the reins, expanding the trade of tea to a larger capacity. England set up a trading post with a very hesitant China and soon the demand for tea began to swell. The creation of the British East India Company took the tea industry to new levels, the company soon becoming a large monopoly, holding a large amount of power on its shoulders as they took over the production and selling of tea. As the British began learning how to create their own tea there need for trade with China decreased setting China on a spiraling downfall. Overall the production of tea helped to set England on its pedestal of world power and set other countries on their track to becoming who they are today.
DeleteThe power that the production of tea had on the world can be aken to the production of oil nowadays. Oil is one of the world's most sought after resource, its use in the creation of most everything has made oil a highly wanted substance. Trade of the precise material has sparked a plethora of problems as the want for oil marks itself as one of the things nations would willingly kill for.
Tea was an important part of many countries power. Starting with China, who wanted little to do with the outside world at the time, had one trading post in Canton where they traded silk and china and tea for other goods. It took some time for Britain’s population to take to tea at first because of how expensive it was, due all the middle men involved in the transportation. The expense made it so tea was only available for the rich, but it wasn't long before smugglers and tradesmen found loopholes in contracts which they used to bring tea into Britain and sell for a cheaper price, making it available for all classes at the time. It became quite popular and even had a part in the Industrial Revolution, the caffeine found in the drink help people stay alert and focused after they drank it so companies began offering "tea breaks" as incentives to work for them. The Industrial Revelation was a big step in Britain becoming an even bigger world power. During this time the British East India Trading Company started and their job was trade, especially the tea trade with China, in the process gained more and more power becoming a monopoly. The illegal tea being sold by smugglers and such was quite popular and was detrimental to the legal tea trade between the British East Trading Company and China. The company soon was in debt to China and in attempts to pay them back formed an elaborate scheme to sell China opium (recently banned in China) under the table, these actions ended up ruining the trade with China and started the Opium War. Tea no longer brought from China was a blow to Britain, who by this time were dependent on the drink, so they tried to grow it in India (which they were in control of) and after many failed attempts were finally successful. They were able to drop the production price by 3/4th and railroads and steamships (from the Industrial Revolution) reduced the price of transportation, eliminating many middle men. The tea from India was just as good as Chinas tea and cheaper, many countries bought it from India, enhancing Britain’s world power even more, this was devastating to China's tea farmers who relied on being the main supplier of tea to the world. All in all tea boosted Britain into becoming a world power and set the foundation for other countries to rise up to world powers.
DeleteToday oil is a comparative product to tea back then. Oil has power over countries and companies; it is sought out, starts wars, and creates trade between countries, just as tea was during that time period.
The economic and political aspects of world power are intertwined; tea had a large affect on them. A trade between China and Britain laid down the foundation for Britain’s world power. China traded tea for silver and gold from Britain and in doing so created a monopoly. Tea also impacted the Industrial Revolution which boosted Britain’s world power. One thing in particular was the domino that started the downfall of the Chinese tea monopoly; smugglers and others who brought tea out of China and sold it, causing the British East India Trading Company to be in debt to China. The smuggled tea was cheaper and therefore everyone could afford it and bought it rather that the legal tea from the British East India Trading Company which had dues on it (and more middle men which raised the price even more) putting the company in debt to China. The company thought up and elaborate plan to sell opium, under the table, to China to make up the money. This started a war and ruined relations between the countries. Britain, being dependent on tea, and then tried to grow tea in India and eventually was successful. India’s tea was cheaper because of many price dropping factors, such as fewer middle men, so other countries began buying India’s tea instead of China’s. Boosting Britain’s world power and devastating China’s tea monopoly.
DeleteOil is a large sought after commodity that can be compared to the affects tea had. The want and need for oil has started wars, and used for trade between different countries, we have become dependent on oil, just as Britain had become dependent on tea.
The growing popularity of tea in Britain starting in the 17th century greatly contributed to Britain’s growth as a world power and ultimately China’s diminishing growth as a world power. Tea widened European trade with the east and aided Britain’s commercial advancement into India. Britain depended on China for their tea, which benefited both China and Britain by creating new trade opportunities. The popularity of tea also fueled the industrial revolution by preventing disease with its water purifying qualities and serving as a stimulant for workers. The duty on tea accounted for 10% of the British government’s revenue at one point. The British East India Company was in control of trade and caused the Opium War due to their extremely corrupt practice of smuggling opium into China for tea. The war led to China’s fall from glory as well as their spot as the top tea producer, which ruined their economy in turn ruining peace within the country. The British East India Company started producing tea in India to avoid depending on China, which benefited Britain’s economy even more. Today there are still products that affect our economy how tea did such as commodities like oil and grain.
DeleteTea drastically changed the economic and political landscapes of the world powers starting from when it was first discovered in China in the first Century BCE. During the Tang dynasty, China flourished as the "largest, wealthiest, and most populous empire in the world", in which Tea was the national beverage and was spreading throughout the country. Then, in the early sixth century, tea started to reach Europe. After this, many people in Britain fell in love with the drink and demanded more of it. They set up their own trading posts in China, which only made the demand for tea to increase.Soon, The British East India Company was created and caused Britain to have overwhelming control and power over the tea's imports/exports. As Great Britain stated looking into India for producing tea, the need for Chinese tea plummeted. This influenced a downward spiral for China, economically and politically. As China fell, Britain became a booming superpower and is very important to world events in the following years. Tea indirectly caused this and proved that controlling a valuable trade resource, gives a county immense power.
DeleteOne resource today that is comparable to tea's power is Oil. It has played a huge role in politics in the middle east and recently has influenced countries' decision to invade a certain territory or make trade agreements that they wouldn't have made without it.
Tea was a staple of British life during the Industrial Revolution. This caffeinated beverage became popular in Britain after a sharp reduction in price as well as its medicinal uses and rich aroma. It was such a success that the British Empire went to extraordinary lengths to ensure supply kept up with the ferocious appetite of the raved tea drinkers of Britain. China had a monopoly on tea supply and traded with the British for their sterling silver pound.
DeleteBut as the British demand for tea rose, the value of the British sterling silver pound, went down. The British, in all their mischievous ways, devised an elaborate plan to grow and sell opium to the Chinese, to compensate for the loss in the British pounds value. Opium was illegal in China, but the government was corrupt and overlooked the issue.
The Chinese were soon deeply addicted to the British for their fix, forcing the Chinese to comply with the British and their trade demands. Corruption in the Chinese government guaranteed the continued trade involvement with the British empire despite the obvious effects it had upon the country. This relationship soon devastated the Chinese and as the British began growing tea in India, the Chinese lost control of the tea market which ultimately forced China to shut down all relations with trade and the world economy until the 1978 when the Open Door Policy allowed for free-economic exchange.
Oil has an extraordinary economic and political power just as tea had, only on a more global scale . The world’s addiction for oil has directly or indirectly caused countless wars, deaths and disease, government corruption and political failures. All of these crisis begun by this oily-black propellent of an unparalleled global economy. In the last century, oil has become the new tea, ruling over countries and continents just as The Great British Empire once did.
The visible economic and political changes tea provided drastically started showing during the Tang dynasty (618-907 CE) when it spread throughout China and became the national beverage. China's overall population tripled, exceeding 50 million and was the largest, wealthiest, and most populous empire in the world. When the size and value of the Chinese trade grew larger in the 17th century after allowing the British to create a trading post in Canton, routes of Silk Road and by sea throughout India, Japan, and Korea flourished with; foods, sculpture, paintings, clothing, and poetry. Tea was known for its rapid and easy preparation and was usually used as a medicinal drink, killing bacterial causing cholera, typhoid, and dysentery, also reducing infant mortality and increasing longevity. "Brick tea" and also paper money (which at the time was a new invention), we're both forms of currency and after the first tax on tea in 780, tea's popularity reflected on a book written by Lu Yu describing the cultivation, preparation, and tea production in China.
DeleteToday, the power of natural resources comparable to tea, such as oil and metals throughout the world have become a worldwide battle to obtain these highly wanted substances, only on a more global scale. Without oil, some trades wouldn't be made, disease, war, and countless deaths wouldn't been lessened.
Tea was an economic gold mine. Those who were producing the tea and willing to sell cheaply where making a killing due to how fast the popularity of tea spread through all economic classes and from one area of the world to another. British East India Company was the first company to use advertisement to bring high revenue through tea. Through this advertisement the company became the monopoly of all tea companies. They gained celebrity customers, such as the Queen, which made their products more desirable to the average person. Through this celebrity advertisement more people were purchasing British East India Company products increasing there revenue and therefore their economic value. Bringing in the queen to increase their profits also affects the politics because the queen is the highest symbol of political power and having her consumer their tea was a big deal that was worthy of advertising.
DeleteToday there are many resources that have the same kind of power including: oil, nuclear weapons, and technology.
Oil is a battle that has been taking place for many years. Oil companies compete with each other on who can produce the most, who can produce the fastest, who is the cheapest, and who is making the most money. The faster you are the cheaper you can sell, and the cheaper you are the more money you make.
Nuclear weapons is a much more dangerous competition that has also been taking place for many years. Including right now between the United States, Russia, and North Korea. Everyone wants to prove their power through how extensive their deadly weaponry is. Leaders are willing to do anything to protect their countries which is the scariest thing of all.
Technology is a bit newer but definitely highly competitive. All over the world countries are working hard to come up with the next big thing in technology because scoring in technology equals a big payday and bragging rights. Currently the world power in technology, in my mind, is Dubai. Considering how far they have come in the past few years.
Tea has changed the world. It started advertisement and started independence movements for many including the United States from the British. Who knows where we would be without this beverage, but I know my mornings would be long and slow without my hot cup of tea.
Although China was reluctant to spill the tea with the Western World, Great Britain was allowed a trading port in Canton. The British roared for tea and soon established a monopoly with China's tea trading. They spread the cultivation techniques to India, a colony under British control. Tea reflects the British Empire, the regime most commonly thought of when referring to imperialism and industrialization. Kicking China to the dust, Great Britain had become a world superpower.
DeleteA product sought over similar to tea would be nuclear weapons. Every country wants weapons for themselves, and for other countries to have either those of lesser value, or none at all. We have seen this in the past with the Cold War, and currently with countries such as the US, Iran, and North Korea. Whoever has the best weapons is seen as the most threatening and the biggest superpower, just as Britain's surplus of tea was seen back then.
6. Coca-Cola (August 1, 2014, 11:59pm)
ReplyDeleteWhat about Coca-Cola makes it the epitome of American values?
What about Coca-Cola makes it the epitome of American values? American values: “For those who approve of the United States, that means economic and political freedom of choice, consumerism and democracy, the American dream; for those who disapprove, it stands for ruthless global capitalism, the hegemony of global corporations and brands, and the dilution of local cultures and values into homogenized and Americanized mediocrity” (Standage 225). Coca-Cola, in many ways, encapsulates the nation of America as a whole. Its beginnings were rooted in the competitive struggle that is a capitalist free market, and having succeeded in building a strong name for itself, the company serves as a testimonial to our economic model. Since the beverage had mass appeal - “the millionaire may drink champagne while the poor man drinks beer, but they both drink soda water” (Standage 232) - it represented the American consumer base as a compilation of equals, showing that even though some are rich and some are poor, it is a democracy and everyone is equal. During World War II, Coca-Cola aligned itself very closely with the military, using the wave of patriotism to continue its branding as the All-American beverage of choice. When the Berlin Wall came down in 1989, East Germans were greeted with Coca-Cola: democracy’s soda. Coca-Cola represented the values America held dear; political, economic and personal freedoms, democracy, capitalism, and patriotism. Coca-Cola is certainly the best representation of America in the 1900s.
DeleteCoca Cola has become representative of our country because of the circumstances in which it was created and became popular. Its very origin is a manifestation of the good old “American Dream”- a man works hard to create a product and becomes wildly successful because of it. At the heart of the story is innovation, inventive thinking fostered by the capitalism that, to some, represented ultimate economic freedom. If Pemberton had not been working to best the competition, Coca Cola would never had been created. It was a drink that was created and popularized when America was in one of its greatest periods of growth and it also saw the nation through the Great Depression. No matter how hard times got, people always knew that Coca Cola would be there. In this way, it became a symbol not only of American success, but also of American hope. Just like a Mustang, the drink became representative of the people and the era. It was glamorous and unlike anything anyone had anywhere else, a source of great pride and an American product that was easy to support. After our involvement in both World Wars and the saturation of Coke products on every inhabited continent, it also became a symbol of the overarching power of America. Much like the Western imperialism, this movement of Coca Cola through all cultures was a way of gaining influence and power over others. Wherever you were, Coke was there too. By allying themselves with the military, the drink also gained its reputation as a democratic drink. This smart piece of business ensured the success of the drink- a free man is a man who drinks Coke. Its wild success from a humble start and its continued embodiment of American ideals had made the drink a household name in all parts of the world, one that will forever be linked with America and freedom.
DeleteWhen we think about American values, we have to focus on the historical events that took place during America's growth as a free country and its becoming the world's largest superpower (now that the tea-loving-Britains are out of the picture) because it's there that we can understand Coca-Cola's value.
DeleteWhen people speak about America, these particular values come to mind: democracy, consumerism and individual freedom. These are the main values that the Coca-Cola heavily embodies. We can look back to the increased popularity of soda water in the late 1700s in London. With the discovered taste of Coca-Cola, now only a caffeinated drink without its alcoholic properties, the brand became a major product in the United States and the beverage was marketed and sold throughout the course of history. Coca-Cola made America one of the largest globalized nations in the world; plants were set up in places as far as North Africa, France, and it steadily spread throughout the Middle East. The beverage practically shouted American consumerism with its acquired taste and attractive marketing. Coca-Cola also targeted a large audience, from children, to presidents (Dwight E. Eisenhower) to the average soldier as they fought in the World Wars, even the Soviet Union's greatest military leader General George Konstantinovich Zhukov vied for the soda drink.
Coca-Cola became known as something like freedom in a bottle. Despite the period in which the beverage was considered unhealthy as well as its anti-Semitism vibes, Coca-Cola, according to Robert Woodruff, the company's boss, the drink was "the essence of capitalism." (pg 258) It became an exotic, tasteful drink that everyone strongly associated with America and democracy. It satisfied its consumers everywhere, particularly American soldiers fighting on the warfront. Wherever they went the soda beverage was brought with them; the brand became a piece of home away from home, a familiar drink that inspired a fight for their country. It was handed out after the Berlin Wall collapsed in 1991, a taste of freedom for the East Germans. The strong ties the company had, as well as the knowledge that it was the most widely consumed soft-drink to this day has given Coca-Cola its imperialistic association. Even now, when you buy a bottle of the famous brand, the first thing it reminds you of is America, the home of the free.
Coca-Cola is the rebellious beverage of A History of the World in 6 Glasses; it defies the previously set patterns of how one defines an influential drink. While the first five glasses traveled from their place of origin, and lost their association with their birthplace, Coca-Cola's globalization only strengthened the drink's ties with America.
DeleteThe infant stages of Coca-Cola coincided with one of the fastest periods of change in history: the twentieth century. The Industrial Revolution and the large-scale use of the assembly line allowed firms to increase productivity while decreasing costs. The Coca-Cola company took advantage of the changing times and opened factories to increase syrup and soda water production, and eventually, provide a faster bottling process. As it became more popular, Coca-Cola came to represent the new pace of life, one that looked towards capitalist and industrial expansion for the American future.
Economic expansion did not stop on the national level. By the time it entered World War II, America shed its isolationist policy and embraced the growing global market, of which Coca-Cola played a major role. Wherever troops were, Coca-Cola was never far behind; the drink was considered a necessary ration for boosting morale. The war truly solidified Coca-Cola's association with American ideology: free choice, democracy, and capitalism were among the key ingredients of the brown, fizzy, beverage.
Through the Cold War and beyond, Coca-Cola has continued to champion America's world superpower status, and democratic ideas. The drink is inextricably linked with the fight for freedom and choice. Ironically, it is often linked with a "new age" imperialism; Coca-Cola has swept through almost every country, bringing a glamorous, American culture, that continues influencing developing countries, today.
Coca-cola represents American values because it's essentially, an all American drink. The drink, unlike the others we read about, itdid not spend decades traveling throughout the world as cultures adapted it as there own, on the contrary; Coca-Cola was a product that started its global climb in america and took only a short amount of time to climb its way up to globalization. Discovered by John Pemberton, the concoction was originally for the pharmaceutical use but quickly the company dropped that branding striving for a new one. Instead of selling as a “Sovereign remedy for Headaches,” Coca-cola began promoting themselves as simply,” Delicious and refreshing,” which was a marketing campaign that set Coco-cola up to the most successful brands in the world (Standage 242).
DeleteSince the late 19th century, Coco-Cola has embodied American ideals. Starting with the act of prohibition, Coca-Cola has become a drink of the masses in the U.S., as it's a non-alcoholic drink the production of it increased as the 18th amendment began its course. When the start of great depression Coca-Cola continued to strive despite the economic depression, so much so that when World War II came about it became on of the things soldiers missed the most. In a moment of entrepreneurial genius, the idea of setting up Coca-Cola plants on military bases to full the soldiers. And thus Coca-Cola became the symbol of freedom, like Caption America in a bottle consumerism increased and the drink skyrocketed as the company advertised the fact that,”Wherever the U.S. troops may be America goes along….so naturally, Coca-Cola is there to (Standage 255).” When the Cold War started up Coca-Cola stood as the Russians ideal of everything wrong with America, or Capitalism at its finest. Even today you can pick up bottle of Coke and one of the first things you think of is America, with our freedom and our capitalism and ever expanding need to globalize. Coca-Cola is the epitome of American ideals because no matter who you are, you are able to buy a bottle of ice cold Coca-Cola.
As tea is to Britain, Coca-Cola is to America. Although it was not created in America, soda water (the ancestor of Coca-Cola) moved from scientific curiosity to a commercial product. After initial ownership rights, Coca-Cola was able to skyrocket with the help of manufacturing, marketing, and a handy railroad network. Coca-Cola was everyone’s drink. The rich, the poor, the young and the old. All were portrayed with smiles in brilliant marketing ads. Coca-Cola even allied itself with the military during World War II to show a deep patriotism and love for it’s country of origin. Coca-Cola was also part the foundation of America’s industrial might. Since being produced in factories by machines, mass production became possible; which soon fixed itself as an integral part of American life. A quick visit to the Coca-Cola Company website will tell you that their values are “Leadership, collaboration, integrity, accountability, passion, diversity, and quality”. And it is for that reason that makes Coca-Cola the epitome of American values.
DeleteAmerican values include "economic and political freedom of choice, consumerism and democracy, the American dream..." (Standage 225) Coca-cola embodied theses aspects through a confusing start and working up the ladder to become a favorite drink around the world and in all classes in society. What also helped Coca-Cola become a symbol of American values was it's timing and advertising. During the depression its ads "depicted an appealingly happy, carefree world." (Standage 247) and as a result people bought it. During World War II, Coca-Cola was sent to American bases around the world and advertisement showed service men (and women I presume) drinking Coca- Cola, which aided to the association of Coca- Cola and American values, such as democracy, consumerism, economic and political freedom of choice, and the American dream, which they were fighting for.
DeleteCoca-cola is a drink that appeared at the right place at the right time. Had it come out after the depression, I don't think it would have been as popular as it is, but it did. On top of that, it advertised a world that the people were desperately craving: a happy, carefree world, a world that embodied the American ideals at the time, the American Dream, in other words. This made the drink grow in popularity. Then, as the war came around, coke would advertise for the military, which is a large part of American values. It would bring out patriotism, which is a popular method of propaganda, especially during war time. Due to this, coke symbolized American ideals
DeleteCoca-Cola is not only the only the most valuable brand in the world, but it also is the #1 symbol of American ideals and capitalism. As it rose up from being a small pharmaceutical drink in the late 1800's, to being a household name throughout the world, Coca-Cola represents the American dream of rising up through the ranks with hard work and determination. It even accounts for "3 percent of humanity's total liquid intake." (Standage 265).
DeleteAnother reason that Coca-Cola represents American ideals is the globalization of the drink throughout the world. Since it was done through rapid expansion and through the freedom of a free-market based economy, Coca-Cola is a prime example of how businesses can thrive in a capitalist country. This is why the company is often associated with not only American values, but also capitalism as a whole.
Coca-Cola can be considered the epitome of American values because it was created in the American style of mass production using specialized machines to handle each step of the process and the success it has gained can be traced back to America’s core values. America’s values are centered around capitalism, democracy, and globalization and Coca-Cola represents all of these through its incredible economic success across vast cultures and all of the social classes. These values can be seen in both a negative and a positive light. One can focus on the economic and political freedom of choice that Americans claim to have or the global capitalism America has brought which has diluted local cultures and contributed to the rise of American mediocrity.
DeleteCoca-Cola, a small soft drink created in 1886, sold for five cents a bottle is a perfect example of a product that has made it's way up in a capitalist industry. Capitalism is an important American value and Coca-Cola, being a small company and factory making its way up and becoming an enourmous entity and commercial product in America was eventually the epitome of American values. In the Coca-Cola marketing ads, you never saw a frown. Not only is it the epitome of American values due to the extreme success, popularity, and process of mass production, it's also due to the reliability, company integrity and determination of this entire success story, making it something Americans love and drink everyday.
Delete"Have a Coke and Smile!”
DeleteCoca-Cola developed alongside the United States during the 20th century. A century defined by US industry, war, and political involvement. And wherever the US set their political interests, Coca-Cola was shortly behind, promoting and campaigning for the world to “Open Happiness” in its “Delicious! Refreshing! Exhilarating! Invigorating!” all- American, drink.
Coca-Cola was developed during the American Industrial revolution. A time of rapid paced industry and expansion. Coca- Cola was a refreshing beverage that kept up with this pace, giving workers the cool jolt of energy to keep them going during a work day. Coke became so popular in the early 20th century it came to embody the “essence of all America stands for, a decent thing honestly made, universally distributed, conscienceless improved with the years.”
As the 20th century progressed, the United States began playing a larger roll in the world and its affairs, involving its troops in two World Wars, dropping its isolationist status and participating in the world economy where good old Coke would come to rule as one of the largest corporations.
This fizzy, brown, drink became the face of the United States. Representing the good, the bad and just plain ugly aspects of its ideals. Coca-Cola was the drink of the 20th century and “all that goes with it: the rise of the United States, the triumph of capitalism over communism and the advance of globalization. ”
Coca-Cola got its start through America and is the perfect representation of the 'American Dream'. John Pemberton took his freedom of curiosity and experimented to create the soda water.Americans took ahold of the product to help the new drink flourish. Bring a new beverage into the world and making John Pemberton a very rich man which is what the American Dream is. However, America itself needed coke just as much as the people.
DeleteCoke is exactly what Americans needed to get trough the World War and the Great Depression. The people looked at Coca-Cola as a way to reestablish energy other than coffee and the depressant alcohol that only brings energy for a short amount of time and brings much more negative effects than positive. Soldiers off at war demanded coke in order to have the energy to continue fighting. This is where coke got huge amount of its support. With the soldiers relying on the beverage the Americans back at home began switching to drinking more Coca-Cola instead of alcohol because it had positive effects allowing people to still do their work while also being rejuvenated unlike alcohol. Having something positive in your life is exactly what American values are. Americans want to be happy, free, and successful. Coke kept many happy while also keeping them free and successful. Since there wasn't negative effects of coke like alcohol people were free to drink as much as they wanted and still be successful with their responsibilities.
Through hard times of wars and depression Coca-Cola brought hope. Hope to the soldiers that they would make it home and hope for the American people that they would make it through the hard times. Then and today it still is the perfect example of American values.
When one thinks of American values, a few key phrases come to mind. From a positive perspective democracy, persistence, and freedom are the first to surface. Coca-Cola, like America has thrived on these principles.
DeleteDemocracy was founded on the idea that every person has the same rights. Equality was seen when the rich and the poor drank soda water, a key component in Coca-Cola (which was first sold only as a soda water flavoring). There was no longer such a divide between the rich and the poor - the beer and the wine, all thanks to Joseph Priestley, the father of impregnating water with fixed air (pun intended).
Persistence is the foundation for America. Whether is it fighting wars overseas (necessary or not), or surviving an economic crisis, Americans are known their resilience. Coca-Cola helped America keep spirits up during the Great Depression, a period starting with the stock market crash of October 1929. While this was happening, troops overseas were being energized by the caffeine in the drink.
After the dismantling of the Berlin Wall, those formerly in the East were relieved to see Coca-Cola – they lined up by the bottling plant to purchase Coca-Cola by the crate-full. This drink to them represented exotic and foreign ideas, as they were formally governed by the Soviet Union. An exotic, American ideal would have to be freedom. Freedom of expression, especially. Coca-Cola embodies this. Coca-Cola has different flavors, such as diet, cherry and vanilla. But the company never has nor will it do away completely with the classic flavor, something New Coke could not surpass. Just like the drink, Americans have the freedom to go through different phases of “flavors,” while a classic patriotism will always be underlying.
Of course there are negative American values, one in particular is corruption. John Pemberton was the inventor of Coca-Cola. Although there was a scuffle between multiple business men on who really owned the company. Coming out on top was Asa Candler, who succeeded due to John Pemberton’s death. Another aspect of corruption is the famous loophole. When Coca-Cola was not allowed to picture children in their ad campaigns, they instead put Santa Claus. This was not a child drinking Coca-Cola, but rather a person that children idolize.
Whether you mean the negative or positive aspects of American values, all make up the American dream. Coca-Cola is the poster child for the American dream, having started from nothing in 1886, to becoming a worldwide power in 2015, all while keeping American values.
7. Water (August 8, 2014, 11:59pm)
ReplyDeleteStandage suggests that the beverage of the future is water. Given that we often take water for granted, predict how our ideas about H2O may change in the coming decades (or centuries).
We take water for granted, but our accessibility to this precious resource is diminishing right before our eyes. While global warming is melting glaciers, pushing sea levels higher and higher, we can’t drink salt water, and the supply of fresh water is what’s wearing thin. Countries in the Middle East, the Sahara Desert, and central Africa are already running out of fresh water, or never had accessibility to supplies of clean water in the first place. In the US, while we like to believe we’ll always have plenty, California is facing a record drought that, by some estimates, will leave the state inhospitable due to the lack of water. What the world is seeing is a general trend towards the decrease in clean water availability, but no particular increase in efforts to counter it. Humans will probably wait until it’s too late - then proceed to fight another world war over water. Superpower nations, like the United States, might not care until water shortage problems begin to REALLY hurt us, or more specifically, hurt our economy. In the coming decades, we may begin to realize just how important water is, and just how close we are, as a result of our ecological destruction, to losing our most precious resource.
DeleteIn the coming decades, I can't say that anything will change. We have known for quite some time that clean water is a scare resource- one that is becoming harder and harder to find- and yet we are still struggling to change as a society and to help the millions of people who do not have access to it. The concept of selling plastic water bottles, one that would be foreign to the people of the centuries before us has become a billion dollar industry, despite the scarcity of the resource and it shows no sign of letting up anytime soon- this is just one example of our lackadaisical attitude to the resource that we need to live- one that is a requirement for the creation of every drink this book covets. The historical trend of the wealthier nations not caring about an issue until it is at their front doors will most likely come into play- we like to ignore problems that do not directly affect us. I think the event that is most likely to change our ideas of water is a major military conflict that is certainly bound to happen. A a country we are famous for involving ourselves in the affairs of others and when war breaks out over water, maybe we will begin to understand the gravity of the situation. Until something large confronts us with facts that no politician can deny, change is unlikely.
DeleteOur ideas about water have already changed dramatically. If you go up to a person and ask them their favorite beverage you can bet that most of the time they'll say anything but water. In our society today, we have such a variety of drinks to choose from, sugary drinks full of calories and carbs, some that are supposedly better than others (like Vitamin waters for instance), but still high in processed sugars and not nearly as healthy as water. The percentage of unhealthy ingredients we consume on a daily basis is not good... and it's addicting. But even so, you can guarantee that water will still remain an important source for humanity. Right now California is going through another horrific drought that is leaving people stranded and without an available water source, and many places in the Middle East often go without water due to similar circumstances. Water is used in everything, from making food, to daily consumption, to showers and cleaning and so many other things. We still rely on it, even if we don't want to accept that drinkable water has become so scarce that its becoming a a major issue for people all over the world. And like Standage said, we've fought over water since the early ages; it can either make us or break us, and that will forever be the case as long as we continue to depend on it to keep us going.
DeleteOver thousands of years, water has transitioned from a harmful, bacteria-ridden liquid, to a fashionable elixir of life. The process of water distillation and purification, invented in the nineteenth century, has placed the beverage at the top most-wanted lists for many countries, and not just developing ones. The scarcity of water in regions of Africa and Asia has always been alarming, but developed countries are beginning to experience intense droughts, as well. The warring Middle Eastern countries, although rich with oil, have little available water; it is predicted that the Middle East's, if not the world's, next battles will be held over water.
DeleteThe water shortage affecting Americans the most, currently, is California's. The drought has caused dramatic increases in water prices for residents of the state, as well as shortages in fruits and vegetables; a major issue, considering that a great deal of our produce comes from California. While water scarcity in foreign countries has concerned us, it has not truly effected us. The California drought has changed this, and while many people do not take it seriously, the effects of the drought will be devastating. Hopefully, the next popular trend will be the conservation and protection of water.
DeleteWater, the substance used in just about everything. Up until now water was always thought of a renewable resource, and though it is true that the Earth has the same amount of water on it as it did when it started, the fact of the matter is out of that vast amount only 3% is drinkable and that number is dwindling. First world countries use water endlessly, we need it to eat, we need it to clean, and most importantly we need it to drink. Litteralay one can not live without drinking water, dehydration kills you quicker than hunger. Unfortunately for the entire human race, where all idiots. As global warming becomes a major issue the lack of clean water available is becoming harder to find and that is a giant problem. With the large scale use of pollution being released into our air beginning in the industrial revolution and steadily increasing to the horrifying amount we have today, many of our water sources have been contaminated. Unfortunately for the water-needing-species-of-the-Earth, humans have only just figured out that global warming's an actually a problem, which means there's a significant amount of undoable damage that's already happened and water is at the top of the list (along with the ozone layer). The problem is spreading, instead of just being a third world problem that only people living in countries so vastly different from the ones we live in have, it is becoming a problem that some of the world's most famous celebrities are experiencing, newly forming droughts slowly terrorizing the word. It is no doubt that water has the power to become the next oil, where superpowers are willing to go to war for the ability to have the precious substance, and though the awareness of this problem is growing, some people just can't seem to wrap their heads around. One day water will become a thing that will be so impossible to look over that every political leader out there will have to take it seriously, and if we don’t figure it out soon, it going to end in blood.
As the first, and most natural beverage, water is often overlooked. It’s availability has and always will determine the fate of humankind (and, as Standage suggests, possibly beyond). Even so, water is not the highest favored drink. After all, it seems silly to stick to water when we live in a world of unlimited beverage possibility. However, water is a limited natural resource, and it is for that reason that our ideas about H20 will change in the coming decades. Water is a vital component to human life, and when it runs out, humankind might follow. The notion of extinction will certainly be enough to stir our views and hopefully bring about change in the way that we use and consume water.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteWater is a necessity--the most natural drink you can find. Yet, we do take this drink for granted because of our unlimited access for it. Water is the least preferred drink which is why you see people around us not accepting the severity and preciousness of it. Our water supply is thinning by the day and has already diminished in some Middle East countries which is why I think soon the ideas and thoughts about H2O will change in the upcoming decades. This had started out as a global warming issue, being a major problem to the species that need this water and has created newly found droughts that have wiped out even more water supplies. I think, sadly, once an event that recognizes this severe problem, we won’t begin to see it until then.
DeleteIn the coming decades, our population will continue to rise and climate change will continue to affect our water sources. This will increase the demand and decrease the supply of water, which will change our attitudes towards water drastically. We will no longer be able to take water for granted. It will become a scarce commodity, much like oil, which will spark international conflict as well as cooperation. The population of the world will most likely continue to rise, plateau, and then begin to fall dramatically, largely due to the scarcity of water.
DeleteCurrently California is experiencing an epic drought on a biblical scale because California has, like a lot of the US, selfishly devoured its water supply. Although California has successfully reduced water usage by 29%, they have been unsuccessful in quenching the thirst of their bone dry landscape that has cost the country millions of dollars in agriculture loss, thousands of acres of forest, and huge financial issues for the United States economy.
DeleteCalifornia’s issue arose from a specifically American mentality that fresh water will always be around. This naive thinking cannot exist any longer. Our cartoon green lawns do not need any more watering when a rain-forest on the West Coast is literally on fire because it is so dry. A rain-forest, I mean come on! If that’s not a sign to stop our selfish use of fresh water, I don't know what is.
Humans must begin thinking of ways to more creatively and sustainably use water. We must create more efficient ways of using water or else face the very real risk of civilization becoming like one of those Mad Max movies, where its characters are hazardously racing and killing their way through dehydrated landscape for a freaking drop of water.
Drought is at record levels and not just in California. The whole world is experiencing the driest decade ever on record and is showing no sign of wetting up. Our careless usage of water threatens to destroy the intricate and delicate balance of Earth all during humanities short existence on this planet. We must not allow the world to become ruin by fault of its most intelligent inhabitant.
I don't think society's ideas of water will change much in the coming decades and years. Although we have known about our continuing water shortage around the world, we have done little to nothing to change that. Water bottle sales are still going strong, as stated in the book, and as a whole we still are wasting many gallons of water a year. If we keep going on like this, not only will our water supply will wither away, but so will us. As far as the consumption of water goes, I don't think that will change as well. We are a society built off of soft drinks and due to the variety of beverages out there, I don't think people will switch to the much healthier water alternative.
DeleteOur environment is constantly changing rather we do or not. With environmental changes comes climate changes. The Earth is getting warmer and warmer due to global warming which makes glaciers melt and sea levels rise. The problem with rising sea levels is this is water we can not drink and the fresh water we need to survive is diminishing. In the upcoming years I don't believe humans will change their ways at all. Global warming has been developing for countless years but still very few people try to make a change. We only change when it becomes absolutely necessary and we have no other choice. Currently we still have fresh water easily accessible so we see that as we do not need any change. Only when water becomes difficult to come by and we struggle to have enough water to make it through our everyday routines will humans start to make a change. I just hope people see the issue before it is too late.
DeleteUp until recently, humankind has taken water for granted, seeing water as a renewable resource. It is a necessary resource to sustain human life. Standage uses the quote, “The human right to water is indispensable for leading a healthy life in human dignity” (UN Committee). Developed countries take water for granted by far the most, we have choices between the tap and bottled water. We treat water as a designer drink, as Standage states, models pioneered the bottled water movement. I know a group of boys who only drink Fiji water in order to look more gangster (Needless to say, it doesn’t really work). While Indiana has the Fiji Boys, third world countries suffer through mostly contaminated water, and worldwide outreaches require more money than they have to help. In the future, the availability of water will be a prominent factor of whether or not a country is a power or not. With global warming and countless droughts, humans will soon need to change their ways, and conserve water. This idea of depleting freshwater is now a reality for people in such countries as America with Californian droughts, but other states continue to sip on bottled water, ignoring the tap. Humankind needs to alter their ways, but given our stubborn, ignorant nature, it may be too late before we do.
Delete8. Reflection (August 15, 2014) Now that you have read the book, give me a little analysis of what you thought of it. Did you find Standage's ideas to hold up? Is looking at the history of the world through a beverage lens helpful or not? One critique of this book is that it tends to be very Eurocentric. Do you agree? Are there other ways that you might be able to look at world history that would give you an alternative perspective?
ReplyDeleteI found A History of the World in 6 Glasses to be an entertaining and educational read. Relaying world history through the lens of different drinks was a unique way to learn about the economic, social, and political effects of the trade and travel of goods. I am not quite convinced, however, that the different beverages had as large an effect on world history as Standage alludes to. In the tea and coffee sections, specifically, Standage leads one to believe that the American Revolution, the Englightenment, and the development of personal finances were influenced mostly by the favored beverages of the time. On this account, I disagree; while coffee and tea were consumed in social settings which certainly fostered intellectual discussions and talk of rebellion, I don't believe the absence of the drinks would have prevented the events from occurring. So while beverages play an important role in the sustenance and happiness of people, I don't believe they have such a large influence over world history as Standage says.
DeleteAn interesting way to explore world history would be traveling the path of the production of various objects; perhaps a Macbook, a glass from Ikea, a Bic pen, any number of things. By tracing the paths of production, the reader could observe the different ways in which items are produced in different parts of the world; it could theoretically encompass social, economic, and political concepts.
I agree that the book is very Eurocentric. That said, a great deal of the beverages discussed are consumed largely by European populations. Thus, it may be impossible to look at world history with a drink perspective and avoid Eurocentric tendencies.
I'm a little embarrassed to say that I hadn't even considered the European focus in the book. Our historical education at school is so Eurocentric that I haven't had many opportunities to read history books with an African, Asian, or South American focus; and I believe this says a great deal about the history curriculum in American education.
Standage's view on history was different than those I have come across. If was interesting and refreshing to see a different perspective of world history and how our world came to be. However, I do have a hard time believing in some Stangage's thoughts. Personally I cannot believe that the world developed how it did purely because of what we had to drink. I understand that some drinks created historic backlash such as that of tea with the Boston Tea Party and beer with prohibition. However, these six drinks were not responsible for all history.
DeleteLooking at world history through this different lens was beneficial for me because it kept my interest throughout the book especially since these six beverages are ones we are around daily. The perspective change also allowed me to form my own opinion on history. Including my opinion on the overall context of the book. With that said I would agree that this book is very Eurocentric but I would also argue that it has to be because most of these beverages started and thrived in Europe so it would only make sense.
There are many alternatives to study history. You can analyze artifacts, climate, technology, and many other ways. The alternative that I enjoy the most is that of genetic tracking that was introduced to me through the Real Eve video. I find this to be a very interesting outlook on how the human race changed and moved around the world.
Overall the book was very interesting and informative. presenting history through a different lens is perfect for world history because it allows the mind to open. Open mind means it is more opened to except different types of information. That is exactly what this book did.
A History of the World in 6 Glasses was an interesting and relatively easy read. For the most part, I think that Standage’s ideas held up but he did slightly exaggerate the impact that the drinks had on our history. This didn’t bother me much because I understood that it was just a tool he used to create drama and keep his readers engaged and that his purpose was not to convince people that spirits single handedly sparked the revolution or tea brought down an empire. He simply wanted to provide a new and interesting perspective with which to view those events and I believe that he was very successful. This book was very Eurocentric but that is to be expected when writing about drinks that have ties to industrialization so I don’t think it is a problem. There are tons of other ways that you could study world history and the one I am most interested in pursuing is studying music throughout history because music can be found across all cultures and it provides one of the most raw and emotional outlooks on the past.
DeleteStating that this book was interesting is an understatement, and while reading, my mother constantly told me to hurry up so she could read. The approach of using beverages was quite unique; I don’t particularly excel in the visual arts area, but I would really enjoy viewing history from that lens. I do agree with Siena, however, that Standage may have exaggerated the importance of some drinks. Then again, everything will always have a bias. What's important, is that we as history students take away the hard facts and analyze the rest. This book was Eurocentric yes, but this may not be a problem. When dealing with times of industrialization, one must understand that Europe and Asia were big leaders at most of the time periods mentioned. America rose with the aid of Coca-Cola, just as Standage says.
DeleteAfter reading this book I found myself constantly either thinking or sometimes even saying out loud facts I learned about drinks. As with any book, I had my favorite sections, such as spirits and wine (no, not due to drinking them!), but I did gain knowledge from every section.
I honestly found the book entertaining and educational at the same time. It was very easy to read because it flowed well and I just kept wanting to know what was next. I think the idea of looking though history through various beverages is very helpful because, as I learned in the book, many events can occur due to one drink. Overall, I think Standage's ideas did hold up and the book seemed very accurate in all of the history it told. My favorite part was the chapter about coffee, because an entire revolution practically stemmed from one single beverage, which I find amazing. Yes, I do agree that the book was very Eurocentric, and mainly focused on Europeans. I think an alternative way of presenting history without having this biased view is to put it in the perspective of non-Europeans at the time that is being discussed in the book. This has been a very entertaining read overall.
DeleteThis book was a useful, yet creative way to show an area of importance to our history.As most of you said, looking through this lens to gain a better understanding of how important some of these drinks are, was a unique and interesting way Standage came about this topic. I could also agree with Siena about exaggerating the importance of these drinks to a certain extent. However, I did feel like each and every one of these drinks held a specific importance in their own way. My favorite part was either coffee or Coca-Cola, mainly because these are two of my favorite drinks. Standage gave a different outlook on the importance of this novel and gave perspectives that opened the eyes of some readers. This was a very enjoyable read. This book, as many others said, was very Eurocentric and focused a lot on one group of people. This was a great way to present this topic and I applaud Standage for thinking so creatively!
DeleteFor the most part, I enjoyed A History of the World in 6 Glasses. I preferred some sections to others; coffee, and Coca-Cola being my favorites. My largest critique of the book is understanding the scope Standage believes these beverages to have affected the course of history. Certainly he has done enormous amounts of research to uncover parallels between our history and the history of these six beverages, but did they really affect the world as much as Standage says? It would be interesting to know his research process - did he set out to find supporting evidence to his claims, or while conducting research, did he find, again and again, these six drinks reappearing in the course of human events? If the latter holds true, I would be more accepting of Standage’s claims (strong claims about the ways these drinks heavily influenced humanity through the centuries). Looking through the beverage lens may (or may not) have led Standage to exaggerate the influence the effects of these drinks, but it does provide a unique approach to our history.
ReplyDeleteOther uncommon approaches to telling history might be taken that would lead down a less Eurocentric path. I do agree that the book is largely Eurocentric; the beverages always connected back to Europe. Coffee and tea were the two sections it seems the strongest in; while the beverages originated in Arabia and China respectively, the book soon focuses solely on Britain’s appropriation of each drink. In a sense, this provides a greater representation of our history, specifically, the Eurocentric history created through Imperialism, colonialism, and the appropriation of customs of cultures deemed less-than in European eyes. Our history is largely affected by the power Europeans took unto themselves, and while the book is Eurocentric, perhaps it just reflects back to us what our history looks like.
Overall, I think the concept of the book as well as the way the author executed that idea was very interesting. That being said, I'm not entirely sure that it is as relevant as the author makes it seem. Research into Tom Standage tells us that he enjoys looking at history through the lens of food and drinks (he is also the author of a book called "An Edible History of Humanity”) but to me, the food and drinks found in a culture is more a result or a consequence of the time and the connections we make rather than a driving point in history. Even the title of the book suggests that these drinks hold some grand importance but I just do not see them holding that much sway over the growth of civilizations- the book makes us think that society progressed the way it did because of the presence of the drinks but it seems more likely to me that they were just facilitators of movements that were bound to happen. Looking back at the novel, it seems to me that it is vaguely reminiscent of Outliers, a book that is interesting but too often relates mere correlation to causation. Despite my doubts about Standage’s theory, I did enjoy the book. It was very educational about the societies that these drinks were formed in and how the liquids we consumed changed as we changed. I feel like I have learned a lot about the origins of the things we drink- whether that knowledge will ever be useful, I’m unsure. Regardless, I enjoyed the stories and appreciated the detail with which the author was able to discuss each drink. The lens of drink made the history more relatable and easier to digest. As far as the book being Eurocentric, I would have to agree that it is, but I could also argue that it is rightfully so. The drinks that were chosen were chosen because they had a lasting impact on the world. Considering that Europeans and the Western world have been in control for a great deal of time, the only drinks that survived the test and had a part to play were drinks favored by Europeans. While many of the drinks came from other locations, the power of European countries is what extended the power and area of influence of these drinks. The author would have had a much harder time convincing people that some drink they had never heard of changed history so the drinks had to be things we all knew and drinks that were representative of a time in history. Because the actions of the Western World determined so much of history, whether it be through wars, trade, or their imperialistic drive, these drinks were also determined by the Western World.
ReplyDeleteI think that Tom Standage did an extraordinary job in relaying the course of history through the view of only six different beverages. Though I couldn't quite believe it at first, Standage made it obvious that as human beings we are largely affected by anything we discover and depend on, whether it's that glass of sweet tea over there on the counter or something else. I have to agree with Avocet and Lila as well in believing that as interesting as the book was, could we really say that beverages were the major cause to our evolution of civilization and our decisions today? There is obviously something going on according to the research that Standage acquired in those original societies, and perhaps beer and wine really did change the course of our evolution, but as societies became more complex, I think that the impact of many things on our transgression into the future became more complex.
ReplyDeleteI think looking through this particular lens into history and being guided through our mistakes and our successes was very helpful, at least because we go day to day pinpointing history through the newspaper, or from textbooks in class and (more often than not) what we find while perusing the Internet, and it was a new perspective of learning something. I think the knowledge can definitely come in handy, as I enjoyed the way Standage presented the information, and I'm really glad you chose this book for us to read (I would never have thought to pick it up in the first place :))
I agree that the book was very Eurocentric, with that small chapter in the end where America finally came into view, but I'm not sure if this could have been avoided. The discovery and increased popularity of these particular beverages began far in Europe, and until the New World, a.k.a America was discovered there's no rhyme or reason why drinks such as beer and wine would be introduced quite as early in history. I think Standage intended to start from the beginning of human evolution and guide the reader from there, but even so, the Eurocentric point of view makes for a very good AP world history viewpoint. There are so many things in the world that affect our daily lives anymore, but even though drinks are just one of many, these six beverages were probably the best perspective from the very beginning of civilization, as what Standage said was true: we were nomads, most without a specified religions, who's only worry was the food on their back and the water source beside them as they discovered the world.
I found the contents of this book to be an enjoyable way to experience history, the use of drinks created a more digestible version of history. All though the drinks did provide a fascinating outlook on the past, I’d have to agree with the responses previous to mine on the the fact that Standage over exaggerated the effects of drinks on some historical events. I am certain that without coffee the French revolution would have still happened,a simple drink is not the holy grail of all historical events though I do agree that they may have had a great deal of significance in how the events played out. Perhaps the vast growth of coffee house provided the French with a safe haven of sorts to discuss their plans but the revolution was based on equality, the same goes to say about the American revolution. Regardless of this fact, I can see why Standage wrote it this way, what fun would a book be to read if there was no thrill to it and this over exaggerated use of drinks in major world events provides the needed umph. Certainly Standage’s book does an excellent job telling history in a new and creative way.
ReplyDeleteI must admit to the fact that the Eurocentric perspective of this book did irritate me slightly. I have minute pet peeve about historical works being too Eurocentric, a problem that pops up far too much in historical sources, this book didn't provide an exception. Perhaps it is unavoidable for history to be explained without centering in more on Western World because for the past centuries, those where the nations with the greatest powers. Through imperialism. wars, and other events, the Western world where the nations at the lead and perhaps that is why it's so very hard to find a historical source written without a Eurocentric perspective,because it's how we have been taught to view the world.
I thought this book to be a fun and entertaining read. This is a book that I would probably buy and intend to read, but would collect dust on my shelf, so I was glad to explore it. It was very interesting how Standage managed to weave in such integral parts of our history around something as commonplace as a beverage. While I thought that some sections were more loosely strung together than others, his basic ideas held up well. I agree with the fact that it, at times, became a little Eurocentric, but I'm not sure that it was a flaw in the book. All-in-all, I enjoyed it, and it gave me plenty to talk about at any gathering, as I found myself going "Just how much do you know about that Coke?".
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing helpful information, I really like your all post. I will bookmark your blog for future updates.
Click Here : Used excavator cat-330cl for sale in cheap price