The World In Six Glasses Themes

There are many things that shape the course of history. Powerful rulers, deadly diseases, and influential religions are a few common examples of these. But, one group of influential commodities to shape history that not many people consider is beverages. In particular, beer, wine, spirits, tea, coffee, and cola are six that have significantly shaped the course of history. The nonfiction book, A History of the World in 6 Glasses, written by Tom Standage, discusses the significance of these six popular drinks in relation to human culture shaping around their existence.

Tom Standage’s A History of the World in Six Glasses discusses the importance of six beverages (beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea, Coca-Cola), each of which define distinctive periods of civilization. The comparably minor, yet crucial role of water is also represented in support of Standage’s argument regarding not only the necessity of each drink as a requisite to life, but also the role of each drink as a stimulus for cultural diffusion and development. Various historical developments, ranging from water purification to convivia, are utilized to depict each beverage’s appeal and the contributions of each drink towards its respective era of prosperity, subsequently illustrating various historical themes that mark the progression of society

A History of the World in 6 Glasses by Tom Standage is about six drinks (beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea, and coca-cola) and how they have affected the world in the past and the present. All of these drinks were invented in different eras, and the inventions of these drinks were affected by what had occurred in the time period.

Are there any other beverages that influenced the history of the world or any others that are representative of a particular time period? While Standage mentions seven beverages that represent certain time periods, there are more drinks than the seven that he listed, and any of those other beverages could also have a similar impact to the seven he listed.

The book talks about six drinks; beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea and coco-cola. From the third millennium BCE to twentieth century, the drinks changed human history. Tom Standage tells how it was made, the origins, what countries the drink spreads to, and how it change human civilizations. The human civilizations changes includes agriculture, wars, and trading. Also, writing and culture changes because of these drinks. Another thing, how the brain changes under the influence of alcohol and caffeine and if it was socially accepted to go in the places where the drinks was serve. The book includes how important or famous people was affected by the drink.

Within the final six chapters of A History of the World in Six Glasses written by Tom Standage, the role of coffee, tea, and Coca-Cola in modern history is discussed. Standage argues that each of the beverages have their own role in the economics, politics, and social issues of the time period they became popular. “Europe began to emerge from an alcoholic haze that had lasted for centuries” (Standage, 136). In the 17th century alcohol became a less popular beverage, while coffee emerged as the new popular beverage of the time.

As we read The History of the World in 6 Glasses by Tom Standage, we see the massive impact that certain drinks had on history. These drinks could do everything from controlling trade to influencing government. Their power was endless for one sole reason: demand. All three of these commodities caused major shifts in power. Each of the drinks presented a different type of power. Rum influences the pattern of trade, coffee enhanced the power of intellect, and tea worked with politics to create a in shift power. All three of these powers are important in world history and still have an effect on the world today.

The company known as Coca-Cola today was started in September of 1919, but the first Coke brand was served as early as 1886. Since that time it has grown to be one of the most globally recognized brand names with a stock value of $167 billion. Coke’s plan has always been developed with the future in mind. Right away the company realized that it was more profitable to manufacture the concentrate used to make carbonated drinks than to bottle it. From that point on they saw the entire world, not simply the originating country, as their desired market. It seems only practical that the company should pursue this agenda until conquered then focus the effort on expanding into different product lines. This logical

John Stith Pemberton, a pharmacist and “cash-strapped morphine addict,” created Coca-Cola in 1886. He used a French wine called Vin Mariani as his product to replicate. Coca-Cola was different because it was water-based, not wine-based, and included kola nut, caffeine, coca leaf extract, and sugar. It was originally sold as a medicine, a “brain tonic” that “Cures Morphine and Opium Habits and Desire for Intoxicants.” Later broke and ill from his stomach problems and morphine addiction, Pemberton sold the patent to Coca-Cola to Asa Candler, who later officially created The Coca-Cola Company.

History has a funny way of finding significance in what we think to be some of the more common or arbitrary things. We look for great historical events from leaders, wars, peace, and death. But what about the smaller, simpler things in life, ones that we so often ignore. It is those things that have shaped our history, from the beginning of time even until today. To truly understand history we must look at something many of us think nothing of, what we drink. What we drink is such an important part of how we live, how we act, and how we have changed as humans.

When the Americas were just beginning to form, spirits accelerated their colonialism. At first, sugarcane production was introduced to the Western Indies or Caribbean Islands by Christopher Columbus. The West Indies land was not suitable to grow wine vines or grains for beer, instead Columbus introduced sugar canes to the Indies, creating a major sugar plantation in the West

readers that drinks have had a greater impact on history than normally recognized. The fluids are

wielding more power than any other corporation in history. [5] This imbalance of power had an enormous effect on British foreign policy, and led to the independence of the U.S. Like most of the drinks discussed in this novel, Coca-Cola was originally devised as a medical drink. More than any other product, Coca-Cola has stood as the symbol of America's “vibrant consumer capitalism.” [4] Rather than shrink at the challenge, Coca-Cola took full advantage of the challenging times it found itself in, gaining ground through the depression, and then traveling alongside our soldiers into WWII, becoming a global phenomenon.

Coca-Cola is the largest non-alcohol beverage manufacturer in the world, which holds approximate 43% market share. The firm is also ranked in top 20 in the Fortune 500 in terms of the largest capital with over 100 billion dollars in assets. John Stith Pemberton is the founder of the firm, which is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. During its 100 years of history, Coca-Cola has grown its businesses substantially in the globe. Currently, the firm presents over 160 countries, including China, India, Japan, and South East Asia countries. The main objectives of the firm that is it can serve its products to all consumers in the globe, and expands its businesses to the majority of strategic regions. In order to grow and expand its present to the other major markets, Coca-Cola executes its marketing strategies based on three different categories, including price, place, partnerships, and core products. These marketing methods have supported Coca-Cola to sustain, and grow in the soft drink industry.

The history of Coca Cola began in 1886 when Dr. John S Pemberton, an Atlanta pharmacist created a tasty soft drink which could sell at soda fountains. Since then, Coca Cola grew to be a global brand and touched great heights. Today, it sells across 200 countries and is just as popular across all the markets and nations. The company today, owns or licenses and markets more than 500 non alcoholic beverage brands. The brand has only few major competitors in the global market. The daily servings of coca cola are estimated to be at 1.9 billion globally. (Coca-Colahellenic, n.d.) This is just another proof of the popularity of the brand which has a very large and diversified