A beautifully presented guide to the foods that have had the greatest impact on human civilization. Though many of the foods in this book are taken for granted and one (the mammoth) is no longer consumed, these foods have kept humans alive for millennia and theirs is a fascinating story. Like the other titles in this highly-regarded series, this book organizes the fifty foods into short illustrated chapters of fascinating narratives: the "who, where, when, why and how" of each food's introduction and its impact on civilization in one or more cultural, social, commercial, political or military spheres. These stories span human history, from our hunter-gatherer ancestors to the transatlantic slave trade, from the introduction of frozen foods, prohibition and the rise of the Mafia, to the powdered milk scandal in China. Another example is golden rice, the first genetically modified food developed for the good of humanity rather than solely for profit. Most of the foods are familiar and their importance obvious, such as bread, sugar, wine, potato, beef and rice. Others are far less obvious. The fifty foods include: Mammoth - the prehistoric giant hunted to extinction - Spartan black broth - the stew that sustained an army - Paella - the Moorish origin of jambalaya - Hardtack - kept Crusaders and conquerors alive - Cassoulet - a French town under siege "makes do" and creates a controversial masterpiece - Sugar - European taste for sugar and the transatlantic slave trade that ensued - Hamburger - the democratization of the world - Bananas - a murky US-EU trade war. Fifty Foods That Changed the Course of History is an informative and entertaining look at how what we eat has made us who we are. Fifty Foods that Changed the Course of History takes us on a gastronomic odyssey that spans several thousand years. -- Roberta Sabban ― Palm Beach Daily News Published On: 2014-10-02 In this most recent title in the Fifty Things series from Firefly, Price keenly describes 50 of the most influential foods (including some beverages) throughout history based on five categories: cultural, social, commercial, political, and military. Chronologically arranged essays range from two to eight pages and are bolstered by appetizing images, sidebars, and quotations. Beyond the more common expected foods (e.g., corn, potatoes), Price also expands the menu to include significant items from across the globe, such as kimchi, rendang, and biltong, and also those that impacted culture, such as Swanson TV dinners and Campbell's soup. Topics are well researched, crafting a unique historical narrative of the impact of each ingredient. A bibliography of further reading and an index is included. Recommended for public and school libraries. -- Becca Smith ― Booklist Published On: 2014-12-01 From the obvious selections such as bread to obscure and no longer eaten items such as Spartan Black Broth, Price (Charles Darwin: Origins and Arguments) takes the reader on a trip through history and around the world as he explores the foods that shaped the world around us.... Food plays such a large role in our lives, but seldom do we think about where it came from. In this book, Price illuminates ways that food choices all over the world have actually shaped human history. Readers are bound to look at food with a new appreciation. ― Publishers Weekly Published On: 2014-10-06 Bill Price is a regular contributor to many international publications and popular reference books. His published works include Tutankhamun: Egypt's Most Famous Pharaoh and History's Greatest Decisions . Introduction The shelves of supermarkets are today stacked high with foods from all over the world, an astonishing variety that many of us may take for granted because the sight has become so familiar. If we were to stop for a moment to consider where all of these foods have come from and how they have arrived on the shelves in conveniently packaged forms, then the connection between the food we eat and the way we live our lives would become apparent. Delve a little deeper still and what begins to emerge is the history of the interaction between people and their food, which shows how close these connections have always been and gives us an indication of the influence food has had on the nature of society. The Stuff of Life Food plays a central role in our lives: it is a necessity for all of us, a pleasure for many and an obsession for a few. It can bring us together and on occasion drive us apart, but there can be no getting away from the simple fact that we have to eat to live. The way in which people have provided for themselves through time and across cultures may be very different, but nevertheless the essential nature of sustenance remains much the same. From our hunting and gathering ancestors to the industrial agriculture and food manufacturing processes of today, food has been a common factor throughout our existence and wherever we live in