A History of the World in 6 Glasses

Certain beverages have been used for purposes well beyond mere hydration throughout human history. Six of them, according to Tom Standage, who narrates with authority and charm, have had a very widespread impact on history, emerging as the signature beverage during a crucial juncture.

Through the prism of beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea, and cola, A History of the World in Six Glasses narrates the history of mankind from the Stone Age to the twenty-first century. The Fertile Crescent is where beer was first produced, and by 3000 B.C.E., Egypt and Mesopotamia had become so dependent on it that salaries were paid with it. Ancient Greece's extensive maritime commerce saw wine as its primary export, which aided in the internationalization of Greek culture. Spirits like rum and brandy, which strengthened sailors on lengthy journeys and supported the evil slave trade, propelled the Age of Exploration. Despite its Arab origins, coffee stimulated revolutionary ideas in Europe throughout the Age of Reason, when coffee shops developed into hubs for intellectual discourse. Furthermore, tea gained significant popularity in Britain many centuries after the Chinese started drinking it, which had a significant impact on British foreign policy. Ultimately, although though carbonated beverages were created in Europe in the eighteenth century, they gained popularity in the twentieth century, and Coca-Cola is the primary representation of globalization.

According to Tom Standage, every drink is a kind of technology that he uses to illustrate the complex interactions between many civilizations and to advance culture. Your favorite drink may never seem the same to you.