What are the key characteristics of the Hunter-Gatherer Period?
Some characteristics: -They traveled in small nomadic bands (around 30) -Hunted game, caught fish and picked edible plants -Moved from one temporary camp to another to make use of the seasonal food supplies
How is the subject of the surplus of crops addressed?
-Once beer had been discovered and its consumption became socially important, farming was more important because that was how people got the grains to make beer -Beer helped make up for the decline in food quality as farming rose and gave beer-drinkers an advantage over non beer-drinkers
What was the role of beer in a "civilized society"?
-in The Epic of Gilgamesh, when Enkidu drinks beer for the first time he "becomes human" and can go on to the city of Uruk -The Mesopotamians regarded the consumption of bread and beer as something that distinguished them from barbarians -Lowest ranking members of Sumerian temple workforce were issued one sila of beer a day. Junior officials were given two sila, higher officials and ladies of court were given three sila, and the highest officials five sila -Workers that built the Egyptian Pyramids were paid in beer -Beer was used medicinally and was part of many herbal remedies
What is Standage's explanation of the rise of the role of priesthood within early societies, and how is that connected to alcohol?
-Priests regulated the offerings to the gods -City-states were ruled by elite priesthood that maintained the agricultural economy and lived off the surplus it produced -Carvings depict priests drinking beer out of large pots through long straws
In the section "A Drink from the Dawn of Civilization", Standage summarizes his ideas. Be sure you can explain his conclusions
-The enthusiasm for beer came from the rise of complex societies, the need to keep written records, and the surplus of grain -farming began in the Fertile Crescent because the FC had the best growing conditions -Beer still stands as a friendly, unpretentious drink to be shared -Beer is still the drink of working man