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10,000 BCE
Discovery of Beer in Fertile Crescent
After the last ice age, the gathering of grains became widespread. Beers discovery was unavoidable once the hunter-gatherer lifestyle became popular. Parts of the Fertile Crescent provided an ideal environment for the growth of wild wheat and barley, grains found in beer, which supplied a dull but reliable source of food. Soon after the discovery, cereal grain, such as barley, were found suitable for consumption years later if stored properly. -
9000 BCE
Wine is Discovered in the Zagros Mountains
Wine was discovered during the Neolithic period, between 9000 and 4000 BCE. The presents of the Eurasian grape vine, availability of cereal crops to produce year-round food to wine-making communities and the emergence of pottery made wine-making possible. Pottery provided a place to make wine: when grapes were crushed, the juices would eventually ferment. Natural yeast on grape skins transformed juice to alcohol. Wine was discovered centuries earlier, but in wasn't deliberately produced. -
7000 BCE
Settled Lifestyles Spread Throughout Fertile Crescent
The hunter-gather lifestyle completely diminished when animals began to be domesticated and irrigation systems were developed. Irrigation systems meant better fields to grow crops on the dry lowlands of Mesopotamia and the Nile Valley. Entire villages were built and people no longer found a new area every season. Many advances were made during this period, but mainly because beer could stay in storage for long periods at time and there was no need to find a better spot to grow crops. -
6000 BCE
Pottery Emerged
Pottery was used in the storing of crops. Cereal grains, which were an essential ingredient in beer could be stored for longer periods at a time. Whole cities started to rely on pottery, because it allowed them to have a surplus of food in storage. They also didn't have to pick up and move every season. -
3000 BCE
City of Uruk Emerged
Uruk was the largest city of its time, with a population of around fifty thousand. It was surrounded by large fields for growing grain and other crops that would give them large food surpluses. It wasn't only the political unification that allowed them to stay civilized, but the excess of grain. It was used as food, but also as a way to purify unpredictable water. -
2350 BCE
Beer Became A Currency
All classes, genders, and ages were payed in the form of beer. While pyramids were being built on Egypt's Giza plateau, workers were payed in beer. The average ration was 3 loaves of bread and two jugs of beer. The same was true for women and children who did a few days work at a temple. Refugee women and children were given monthly beer rations. Beer proves to have powered life in Egypt. -
1839 BCE
Opium Wars
Tea became immensely popular among the British. They needed to find ways to pay for tea, so they started selling opium to the Chinese in exchange for silver. The Chinese tried to stop this and it led to the Opium War. Since the British had advanced weapons, they easily won over China. Britain was able to take control of Hong Kong and create foreign Spheres of Influence. -
870 BCE
Wine Became the Drink of Choice
To mark the inauguration of his new capital, King Ashurnasirpal II of Assyria hosted one of the biggest feast in history. His palace was magnificent, flaunting its seven halls with elaborate murals. 69,574 guests were in attendance for the 10 day celebration. In addition to the masses of food, the kings choice of drink was wine. He served ten thousand skins, a clear sign of wealth. This feast popularized wine across the region, and was significant to the popularization of wine as a whole. -
785 BCE
Cuneiform Tablets Prove Wine Rations
Cuneiform tablets from Nimrud prove that six thousand people were being served wine daily within the royal household. Every worker, from Shepard boys to the highest officials were given wine daily, and increased their enthusiasm for whatever the job was. Although the lower ranked jobs were given a less amount, wine rations increased the popularity of the drink, and could increase the profits made in the wine making business. -
780 BCE
Chinese Book About Tea Knowledge Published
A celebrated Taoist poet, Lu Yu, wrote a book extensively describing "the cultivation, preparation, and serving of tea" (pg 180). The poet was so knowledgeable about tea, he could apparently decipher what the source of water is, and what part of the river it came from. His book, "The Classic of Tea" contributed to the popularity of tea. Tea became so popular in China that the government was able to put a tax on it. -
146 BCE
Rome Became Leading Wine Producer
The Italian peninsula had the most imports in the world coming into the region. Romans began to use the Greeks knowledge of wine making. The Romans imported vines from the Greek islands to Italy, making it possible to imitate their wine. Now that both cultures used the same technique, wine no longer defined the region of origin, but the style of wine making people used. -
100 BCE
Rome Expanded Wine Popularity
Within 300 years, Romes population increased by 900,000. With a sharp population increase, Roman wine production intensified. Wealthy Romans no longer drank beer but adopted the wine culture. Wine was imported into Rome from as far as the Aegean and could be exported as far as the Southern Nile. Eventually, wine became affordable enough for all classes, considering the surplus of wine at the center of Rome. -
Jan 1, 1191
Chinese Knowledge of Tea Spread to Japan
Tea was already popular in China but a Buddhist monk brought Chinese tea knowledge to Japan. The Japanese were taught how to grow, pick and prepare the plant. When a Japanese shogun fell ill, the monk cured him with tea. The shogun became a tea advocate and it eventually reached every Japanese social class. -
Jan 1, 1440
Rum Powered the Slave Trade
In order to keep up with the constant demand for rum, the Portuguese shipped black slaves from Africa. Sugar plantations were set up in Europe and rum became the payment for all workers involved. Guards who walked slaves from the ship to the site, sailors, and canoe man were all payed in bottles of spirits. Even slaves could work towards a bottle of rum, which helped them keep up with the demands that were forced on them. Rum surrounded every aspect of the slave trade. -
Jan 1, 1510
Coffee Reached Muslim World
Mecca and Cairo started selling coffee and shook off the religious meaning of the drink. The beverage became a social drink and coffeehouse became a place creditable people could be seen. Although coffees legal status became questionable, it was a legal alternative at the time for alcohol. Before coffee was put on trial, the drink brought many Muslims together. -
Jun 1, 1511
Coffee is put on Trial in Mecca
Coffee became a legal alternative for many Muslims. However, it was argued by religious leaders that since it could clarify thoughts, it was intoxicating. A vessel of coffee was placed before legal experts and was found guilty for having intoxicating effects. It was banned and burned in the streets on Mecca. Some coffee vendors were punished along with their customers for having consumed the drink. Although, within just a few months coffee was once again being widely consumed by Muslims. -
London's First Coffeehouse was Opened
An English merchant had obtained a taste for coffee while traveling in the Middle East. His servant, Pasqua Rosee, prepared the beverage several times a day for the merchant and his friends in London. Rosee opened a coffeehouse and had great success, so much that the local tavern protested. Rosee ended up being forced out of the country. However the idea of coffeehouses became popular and by 1663 there many thriving businesses. -
Rum was Popularized Among Sailors
On long voyages, the sailors preferred beverage became rum. Their previous favorite drink, beer, perished on long voyages and it was found that rum tasted better and could be diluted with water and lime juice to make grog. Spirits became a form of currency and payment. -
Mail in Coffeehouses
Routine coffee drinkers at a particular coffeehouse in London could check their mail while drinking coffee after the establishment of the London penny post. People would check up on the latest news and go through mail once or twice a day. This new innovation drew even more patrons to coffeehouses and increased the revenue of businesses. -
Soda Water was Invented
Joseph Priestly, a clergyman from England, discovered soda water in a brewery in Leeds. He was infatuated by the mysterious gas that bubbled on top of fermentation vats and did a series of experiments to investigate. He concluded that the gas was heavier than air, and would eventually turn into a refreshing glass of soda water, a key component in Coca-Cola. It is ironic that a product that created American history was invented in England. -
Molasses Act was Passed
New England's distillers were thriving on the trade of molasses with France. Since it was banned in France to produce spirits, they were willing to sell it's molasses to the colonies at a low price. England's sugar producing bushiness was losing out and they called for government intervention. The Molasses Act prohibited imports from France into the colonies. This forced colonist to buy from England. However, England didn't produce enough sugar and it ended up being smuggled from France. -
Boston Tea Party
The British imposed a tax on the imported tea from England in order to pay off war debt. To avoid paying the tax, colonist smuggled tea from the Netherlands. England was suffering major losses on their tea and passed a law so they had a monopoly on imported tea in the colonies. The colonist feared for their livelihood, and when ships came to the Boston Harbor, colonist dressed up as Mohawks and dumped every barrel into the Boston Harbor. It was a major step to American Independence. -
Revolutionary War
Rum became the favorite drink of soldiers during the six years of outbreaks. When General Henry Knox communicated with George Washington, he emphasized the importance of rum. Soldiers looked forward to their ration of rum, and kept the colonies encouraged to fight. On the night of the start of war, Paul Revere stopped to get a rum drink during his famous ride to Lexington. It is often argued that spirits had a bigger impact on the Revolutionary War than tea did. -
Beginning on French Revolution
In France, the poor were burdened with taxes, while the wealthy were exempt from them. This especially became a struggle while trying to pay off debt from the Revolutionary War. Coffeehouses became places for crowds to gather to plot violence against the government. After a meeting in Versailles that turned into public confusion, a crowd gathered at Cafe de Foy. A lawyer gathered a large angry mob to attack Bastille, which set the French Revolution in motion. It all began in a coffeehouse. -
Whiskey Rebellion
In order to pay off debt from the Revolutionary War, Alexander Hamilton passed a law to collect an excise on whiskey. He figured this would also have health benefits and help agriculture since people would no longer want to buy as much. However, as expected there were a group of rebels. Thousands of rebels fought militiamen but couldn't withstand the pressure. A few years later the tax was lifted. Although the excise failed, it was proved that federal law could not be ignored. -
Waterborne Diseases Diminished in London
Tea provided many medicinal benefits to the public. Prior to the discovery of tea, water was not boiled and was not filtered. This issue caused many deaths and was a major problem in England. Tea has natural antibacterial properties which decreased the problem alone. However, the water was also boiled and got rid of the rest of the bacteria in water. Waterborne diseases were almost completely gone by 1796. -
Bottled Soda Water is Sold in America
The first professor of chemistry at Yale University, Benjamin Silliman, took a work trip to Europe. The popularity of bottled water stuck with him, and he brought the idea back to the states. He started off by making it for friends and the demand became so high, he started selling on a large scale. He met up with a business associate and began selling bottled water in New Haven, Connecticut and many other companies followed suit. -
Soda Water Dispensers Emerged
Joseph Hawkins had intentions of inventing a way to dispense soda water in a spa-like setting. He was granted a patent in 1809 for the invention. However, the fountain proved to be unpopular among spas. They became popular in apothecary shops instead and became a standard feature. Soda fountains became more and more elaborate. Special dispensers were added as new flavors were developed and they became increasingly updated with every new version of soda dispensers. -
Five Cent Coca-Cola for Troops
After the attack on Pearl Harbor brought America into World War II, Coca-Cola promised to provide every troop five cent drinks. They sent Coke all over the world and reminded troops of home. Bottling plants and soda fountains were set up wherever possible on military bases since shipping the bottles was inefficient. Coca-Cola employees were given military rank for their service at the bottling plants and received free drinks. Throughout the war, the company served around 10 billion beverages. -
Coca-Cola Expanded Overseas
While battling with Pepsi, Coke made a tremendous effort to expand their company to outside the US. By 1950 a third of the companies profits came from outside of America. Only some countries accepted an American company coming and taking over. Those who didn't accept it fell in love anyways. Soviet Unions greatest military leader took a strong liking to the beverage and requested the company to make a colorless Coke so he wouldn't be seen drinking something closely related to American culture.
