HIS 265 - Food in History: Food as History

3 credit(s)
Because of food’s indispensability and universality, change in its supply, preparation, distribution and consumption is a key to understanding the history of human civilization. Not only does what we eat reflect the culture, technology, politics, and the structure of a society but it is simultaneously a principal engine of historical change. We all know how the quest for spices led to the European discovery of the New World. Far less known is the intimate relationship between the growth of sugar consumption, imperialism, and slavery. Employing this dual perspective, we study the role of food from prehistory to modern times emphasizing its connection to economic development, religion, class, gender, popular culture and national identity. We also examine the history of specific foods, ranging from nutritional foundations like maize and wheat to such contemporary gastronomic icons as beer, pizza, chocolate, and ice cream.

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