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9000 BCE
People Begin cultivating Wheat and Barley
People begin cultivating wheat and barley on purpose. Beer had now became socially and ritually more important, so there was reason to live on permanent settlements and farm wild grains to produce beer. This meant beer was a key factor and shifting peoples lifestyles from hunting and gathering towards farming and permanent lifestyle. -
3000 BCE
Beers Symbolic Importance
Sumerian Depictions of Beer show 2 people drinking out of a shared vessel of beer. This sharing of a drink depicting back around the third millennium BCE is a universal symbol of hospitality and friendship that is still embraced in the modern day. From all days past the Egyptians, people were encouraged to drink together as a result of these depictions. -
2350 BCE
Beer's religious importance in Egypt
Funerary (pyramid) text from 2350 BCE mention several varieties of beer. These texts inscribed in Egyptian tombs feature tales, some of which claim that human civilization was saved after the Goddess Hathor accidentally intoxicated herself while on a mission to destroy humans. Whether you believe these tales or not, it is clear beer was culturally and religiously important to the Egyptians. -
2350 BCE
Beer as a currency
Beer is referred to as a "bride price" or wedding payment made by the grooms family to the brides family. Beer also was a payment for women and children who worked in the temple. Both in Mesopotamia and Egypt, Beer was now more than a food. Beer became a currency, which is a key part of any civilization. -
1550 BCE
Beer as a medicine
AN Egyptian medical text called "The Eber Papyrus" is written, containing hundreds of herbal remedies which involve beer. Some of these remedies were said to cure indigestion and constipation. These remedies containing Beer were important as they kept Egyptian society healthy throughout history. -
825 BCE
Wine Propaganda
An obelisk shows Shalmaneser the Third standing underneath a parasol. He has a bowl of wine in one hand, as a supplicant kneels below him. This form of propaganda among others led wine to becoming an emblem of power and privilege. This form of propoganda also influenced people to start drinking wine. -
539 BCE
a drink for the wealthy
The last ruler of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, Nabonidus, bragged that wine was so abundant during his reign that one imported jar containing 18 liters could be purchased for a shekel of silver. However, a shekel of silver was the monthly minimum wage. So in reality, wine was a expensive drink only drank by the wealthy and elite. This idea of wine being of high value still exist today as wine still is pricey, and wine is still seen as a drink of the elite compared to other drinks like beer. -
424 BCE
Wine's commercial Significance
Wine is of such commercial significance that they were primary targets during the Peloponnese War between Athens and Sparta. Vineyards were often trampled or burned. Spartan Troops arrived at wine producing city in Macedonia called Acanthus, and in fear for the grapes being destroyed, they switched their allegiance in order to protect the grapes. -
100 BCE
Additives in Wine
In the early first century, Romans used herbs, honey, and other additives to conceal the imperfections of lower status wines. While Modern drinkers may think the use of additives is not necessary, modern wine still uses additives such as oak to add flavor. To sum it up, the Romans pioneered the idea of using additives, which is still used in modern day wine. -
87 BCE
Wine literally determines Marcus Antonius's life
Marcus Antonius, a Roman Politician, found himself on the wrong side of one of Rome's many power struggles. To avoid being killed by Gaius Marius, a rival of Marcus and his supporters, Marcus lived in a poor mans house. Marcus asked this poor man to buy wine for him as he entered as a unknown guest. When the shop owner asked the man why he was purchasing such a expensive wine, the man revealed his masters identity. This provoked the owner to call in troops including Gaius to come kill Marcus. -
Coffeehouses popularity grows
An English Traveler named William Biddulph, noted that "their coffa houses are more common than ale houses in England... if there is any news it is talked of there." This and other European comments emphasized coffeehouses popularity, as well as its role in being a meeting place to discuss news with others. -
Rum increases in popularity for North American Colonist
Around the second half of the seventeenth century, rum begins to become more popular than brandy/wine. The molasses used to make rum was cheaper and didn't need to be shipped overseas to be made. Rum made hardships not seem so bad, and was a form of liquid fuel in winter. Rum also lessened the amount the colonist would have to depend on European imports, one of the steps to American independence. -
Bribing the King for power with Tea
The British East India Company begins to bring small amounts of tea from the Netherlands as gifts for King Charles of Britain, to ensure the king didn't feel neglected by the company. This among other gifts swayed the king to grant the company the rights to acquire territory, maintain an army, issue currency, declare wars, form alliances, make peace, and dispense justice. This grant from the king turned the British East India Company into the most powerful organization in history. -
Proclamation of suppression of Coffeehouses
King Charles the second of Britain issues a proclamation of suppression of coffee houses, stating that coffeehouses "have produced very evil and dangerous effects." This proclamation was issued because of the debate over the worthiness of having coffee and coffeehouses. The result of the proclamation was outcry in Britain, as coffeehouses were the center of commercial and political life at the time in Britain. -
Coffeehouses birth the theory of gravity
Coffeehouses social and political importance is demonstrated when Christopher Ren, Edmond Halley, and Robert Hooke collaboratively come up with the theory of gravity over cups of coffee. This conversation prompted Halley to visit a colleague - Isaac Newton. After discussing with Newton, Newton later went on to publish a book called Principia Mathematica. This book demonstrated the principle of gravity. All of this scientific discovery birthed in a coffee house. -
Grog and Scurvy
British Sailors in the 18th Century begin using a spirit called grog to prevent scurvy. Grog was made from rum, lemon juice, and water. In the past sailors were dying from a disease called scurvy, which is caused by a lack of vitamin C. The lemon juice/lime juice used in the grog actually contains vitamin C, so the introduction of the beverage made for healthier crews, and with more crew the British could establish superiority at sea. -
Entrepreneurs and scientist form companies in coffeehouses
An English Mathematician observes that mathematics had become " the business of traders, merchants, seamen, carpenters, surveyors of the lands, or the like." Coffeehouses led to entrepreneurs and scientist teaming up to form companies and come up with new inventions and discoveries in areas such as mining, navigation, and manufacturing. -
Tea lowers in price drastically
Tea displaces silk as the pillar import of all the imports from China. By 1721 imports totaled to five thousand tons annually. In 1744 a writer observes that opening trade with the East Indies has brought the price of tea so low that " the meanest laboring man could compass the purchase of it. Basically, tea trade with the East Indies made tea available to everyone. -
Period: to
Tea lowers in price drastically
Tea displaces silk as the pillar import of all the imports from China. By 1721 imports totaled to five thousand tons annually. In 1744 a writer observes that opening trade with the East Indies has brought the price of tea so low that " the meanest laboring man could compass the purchase of it. Basically, tea trade with the East Indies made tea available to everyone. -
The role of rum in Trans-Atlantic trade
An English Trader reports that rum was the "chief barter" on the African Slave Coast, even for gold. Rum established itself as a form of currency that could be used to buy slaves. The rum could be used to make sugar, then to make rum, and so on. Overall, rum made the Trans-Atlantic slave trade in sugar and slaves self fueling and more profitable. -
The Molasses Act
The Molasses Act is passed in 1733 as a result of the New England Distillers importing molasses from French sugar islands. at the time, New England Distillers were purchasing cheap unwanted molasses from the French,and the British were missing out in the European sugar market. As a result, the Molasses Act is passed, but wasn't enforced strictly enough as New England distillers continued to smuggle molasses for rum. This defiance of the act was a big step towards American independence. -
Tea at of 1733
ct of 1733 is enacted as a result of the British East India Company trying to find a way around paying the government a million pounds. Due to the smuggling of tea, sales on tea were reduced for the company, so the company had ten thousand tons of tea in London warehouses. The company had to pay the import tax regardless of it being sold or not, so the result was major debt owned to the government. The Tea Act would allow the company to continue while the government paid off the debt for them. -
George Washington uses Rum to sway voters
George Washington ran for the House of Burgess Virginia's local assembly), in a county with only 391 voters. Washington had his campaigners hand out 28 gallons of rum, and 50 gallons of rum punch, to try and sway the voters. Rum was so significant to colonist that it could literally sway their vote towards Washington. -
The Boston Tea Party
Protesters dressed up as Mohawk Indians tip over 342 chest of tea overboard the British East India Companies boats to protest the taxation of tea on the colonist. Colonist depended on not having to do any trade with London to afford the tea, so the result of the taxation was boycott and protest including the Boston Tea Party. -
The French Revolution started in a coffeehouse.
AT the Cafe de Foy, Camille Desmoulins basically sent the entire French Revolution off. Crowds listened to dismissal about the financial crisis and how wealthy aristocrats not having to pay taxes. Revolutionaries lied to the people saying the army would come and massacre the crowd soon; so Desmoulins jumped on the table and said "to arms! to citizens!" and thus led Paris into total chaos, starting the French Revolution. All of this started by gossip and rumors spread in a coffeehouse. -
The usefulness of tea from India
The first shipment of tea arrives from Assam in London, and the merchants are satisfied with its quality. Now that the usefulness of making tea in India was established, The East India Company could now let other places do the work for them. Entrepreneurs would now establish plantations, and the company would making money by renting the land and taxing any tea that was made. -
Pemberton's effect on Coca Cola
John Pemberton dies from cancer. Asa Candler then organizes a speech declaring Pemberton was a close friend a good man. Saying Pemberton was a good friend was a lie however, and really this was just an effort by Candler to convince everyone he had Pemberton's best interest at heart, and did convince everyone just that. Without Candlers efforts Pemberton wouldn't have been remembered and Coca-Cola wouldn't have grown to the size it did. -
Coca-Cola becomes a casual drink
Until 1895 Coca-Cola was really only sold to people who had the symptoms that Coca-Cola was said to remedy. So to boost sales Coca-Cola ditched the gloomy advertisements listing maladies and instead took a more universal approach. The company began using cheerful advertising such as "Drink Coca-Cola. Delicious and refreshing." -
Coca-Cola attracts kids
Coca-Cola begins to indirectly advertise their drink to kids as well as adults. Because Coca-Cola couldn't advertise directly to kids legally, Coca-Cola would advertise using Santa to get kids to try the drink. These advertisements would increase Coca-Cola's sales as now a bunch of kids were willing to buy it too. Not only that but the advertisements falsely depicted Santa in and red and white suit to match Coca-Cola's colors, and now that is the way we see a modern Santa. -
Coca Cola reaches out globally
Coca-Cola sent refrigerated trucks to Saudi Arabia to supply troops. When people saw General Norman Schwartkopf, (An American general) on TV, it only further grew the company. Not only that, but Coca-Cola had spread globally now, and was seen as a symbol of patriotism. By expanding into the Saudi Market, Coca-Cola would be able to slowly expand their company to other foreign places. -
Consumerism and Coca-Cola
An analysis by The Economist found that Coca-Cola was correlated closely with greater wealth, quality of life, (measured on a scale made by the United Nations) and social and political freedom. The magazine concluded "The fizzy stuff (ie. Capitalism) is good for you. This showed that Coca-Cola had a major significance in consumerism and even democracy as well. Where consumerism and democracy were, Coca-Cola wasn't far behind.
