Did a thirst for beer spark civilization?

[n2doc]

By Michael Kan
Friday, 15 January 2010


Drunkenness, hangovers, and debauchery tend to come to mind when one thinks about alcohol and its effects. But could alcohol also have been a catalyst for human civilization?

According to archaeologist Patrick McGovern this may have been the case when early man decided to start farming. Why humans turned from hunting and gathering to agriculture could be the result of our ancestors’ simple urge for alcoholic beverages.

“Alcohol provided the initial motivation,” said McGovern, a biomolecular archaeologist at the University of Pennsylvania Museum. “Then it got going the engine of society.”

As one of the leading experts on the study of ancient alcoholic brews, McGovern has found evidence showing that early man was making the beverage as far back as 9,000 years ago.

more:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/features/did-a-thirst-for-beer-spark-civilization-1869187.html

[lazarus]

1. damnation

I had this idea 20 years ago, and my Western Civ prof told me I was probably right.

[BlueJazz]

2. Seems like a thirst for Beer led to the catalyst for Football.

:)

[trotsky]

3. There is no limit to the power of beer.

Thank you, beer. :toast:

[SteveM]

4. "Beer is God's way of telling us He loves us" -- B. Franklin (nt)

[caraher]

5. That's the same idea I got from taking anthropology

Seemed like every culture had some kind of alcoholic beverage, but that you really needed agriculture to get a reliable supply of good-quality alcohol.

So I completely buy this idea... and I say this as a non-drinker. (Makes me feel less civilized to admit that...)

[DavidDvorkin]

6. Beer also makes the bad aspects of civilization easier to bear.

[Catshrink]

7. Even better

Young's Double Chocolate Stout -- it's dessert and beer all in one. Like a Starbuck's mocha with a kick. I'd become civilized that that!

[The Doctor.]

8. And weed... let's not forget that.

The two have gone together for some time now.