72 pages • 2 hours read
Tom StandageA History of the World in 6 Glasses
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2005A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
During Reading
Reading Questions & Paired Texts
Reading Check and Short Answer Questions on key points are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.
INTRODUCTION-CHAPTER 2
Reading Check
1. According to Standage, where did agriculture first develop?
2. What people group first discovered alcohol?
Short Answer
Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.
1. Why did alcohol become more prevalent after agricultural settlements became widespread?
2. What was the social and religious significance of beer in ancient civilizations?
3. What was the socioeconomic impact of surplus grain production on civilization in Mesopotamia? How did production change Mesopotamian society?
Paired Resource
“Beer: The Story of the World’s Most Celebrated Drink”
- This article from Time magazine explores the significance of beer as a globally consumed product both in ancient and modern civilizations.
- Shared themes include Culture and Imperialism and Globalization.
- According to the article, why is beer more commonly consumed in social settings than wine and liquor? What cultural shifts have occurred in the consumption of beer?
CHAPTERS 3-4
Reading Check
1. What served as Greece’s primary export during the time period discussed in Chapter 3?
2. Who lost their life because of a low-ranking acquaintance’s pursuit of finer wine?
3. What wine was considered a luxury item in the culture of the Roman Empire?
Short Answer
Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.
1. What was the influence of Ashurnasirpal II of Assyria on the commercial success of wine?
2. How was wine indicative of the socioeconomic status of Greek citizens?
3. Why was the survival of wine threatened after the fall of Rome, and what religious organization can be partially attributed to its survival?
Paired Resource
“The American Wine Industry Has an Old People Problem”
- This New York Times article speculates about the future of wine in the United States warning of the industry’s neglect of young consumers.
- Shared themes include Culture.
- What changes does the author propose to save the wine industry in the United States? How might wine’s “elite” status have dire implications for the future of wine in the United States? How does the decline of wine drinking in America compare to wine drinking in ancient cultures?
CHAPTERS 5-6
Reading Check
1. What process for wine can be attributed to the Golden Age of the Arab world?
2. What new technology enabled the spread of information, allowing the world to access information on new processes for alcoholic beverages?
Short Answer
Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.
1. What was the role of spirits in the displacement and enslavement of people in Europe and the American colonies?
2. How did rum give the British Royal Navy an advantage over their French counterparts in the mid-1600s?
3. In what way was rum responsible for the Revolutionary War in the American colonies?
Paired Resource
“Rum Market Size, Share & Growth Analysis Report, 2030”
- This rum market report considers the connections between current consumer trends and its effects on the rum industry.
- Shared themes include Culture.
- What cultural trends affect the production of rum? Why is the production of sugar essential in the continued production of rum?
CHAPTERS 7-8
Reading Check
1. What country emerged as the largest supplier of coffee?
2. What name was given to coffeehouses in Britain because of the academic discussions available there?
Short Answer
Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.
1. What social and political ideas gave rise to the popularity of coffee during the Age of Enlightenment?
2. What was the primary function of coffeehouses during the seventeenth century, and why do they pose a threat to the social fabric of Europe?
3. How did coffee contribute to the intellectual pursuits of English coffee drinkers in the 18th and 19th centuries?
Paired Resource
“The Culture of Coffee Drinkers”
- This article from Scientific American details coffee consumption in the United States and the cultural trends that influence the purchase of coffee.
- Shared themes include Culture.
- What factors have influenced the coffee market in the United States? How does today’s coffee culture compare to the consumption of coffee between the 16th and 19th centuries?
CHAPTERS 9-10
Reading Check
1. What company had a monopoly on imported goods from the East Indies to Britain in the mid-17th century?
2. What company gained popularity for its production of crockery after the rise in popularity of tea?
3. What illegally traded good led to China’s decision to expel British trade?
Short Answer
Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.
1. What brought about the popularity of tea in the British court, and what were the social implications of tea before it became widespread?
2. How was tea beneficial to those who worked during the Industrial Revolution?
Paired Resource
- This Smithsonian Magazine article describes the increased consumption of tea in the United States.
- Shared themes include Culture.
- How is the importance of tea reflected in Eastern cultures? Why has tea gained prominence in recent years? How has tea played an important role in shaping the modern world?
CHAPTER 11- EPILOGUE
Reading Check
1. Who was the first to produce soda water?
2. What newly enforced law threatened the manufacturing of Coca-Cola?
3. What honorary title was given to technicians of Coca-Cola factories during World War II?
Short Answer
Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.
1. What was the socioeconomic association of soda water compared to the other beverages enjoyed in America?
2. What was Coca-Cola’s initial intended use, and what changes were made to the Coca-Cola brand to broaden the consumption of the product to women and children?
Recommended Next Reads
Salt: A World History by Mark Kurlansky
- This book explores the historical significance of salt on ancient and modern civilizations.
- Shared themes include Imperialism and Globalization and Culture.
- Shared topics include products that shape the history of the world.
- Salt: A World History on SuperSummary
The Silk Roads: A New History of the World by Peter Frankopan
- This book explores the history of the silk trade and the impact of the connecting cultures of East and West.
- Shared themes include Religion, Culture, and Imperialism and Globalization.
- Shared topics include global trade and the merging of cultures.
- The Silk Roads: A New History of the World on SuperSummary
Reading Questions Answer Key
INTRODUCTION-CHAPTER 2
Reading Check
Short Answer
1. Early agricultural settlements contributed to the contamination of water supplies, increasing the need for civilizations to consume beverages that were safe to drink. Beer offered these civilizations a safer alternative due to the process of boiling water to produce it. (Chapter 1)
2. Many ancient cultures attributed social and religious significance to beer. The Sumerians, for example, depicted beer as being a symbol of hospitality and friendship. Additionally, beer was believed to have been sent as a gift by the gods because ancient peoples believed it to have supernatural abilities. (Chapter 1)
3. The surplus food supply enabled some individuals in Mesopotamia to take on new roles in society. These roles were largely funded by grain and beer production. As a result, bread and beer production became associated with currency and functioned as status symbols. (Chapter 2)
CHAPTERS 3-4
Reading Check
Short Answer
1. Ashurnasirpal II provided wine for his guests to celebrate the inauguration of a new capital—a drink that was ten times the price of beer during his time. Ashurnasirpal II’s presentation popularized the drink in Mesopotamia, as it was seen as a display of wealth. The increased imports made the drink more widely accessible to Mesopotamian citizens and replaced beer as the most civilized drink in the region. (Chapter 3)
2. The quality of wine in Mesopotamia became an indication of wealth and success as only the wealthy could afford quality wine. (Chapter 3)
3. Rome fell to the Northern tribes who primarily drank beer, resulting in the reduction of the availability of wine. The divine significance of wine in Christianity is partially responsible for the maintenance of wine-drinking culture. (Chapter 4)
CHAPTERS 5-6
Reading Check
Short Answer
1. Initially, spirits served as a type of currency for the purchase of enslaved people. The connection between sugar, the trading of enslaved Africans, and spirits was further strengthened as the waste product used in the production of sugar was employed in the creation of rum—a beverage that became a reward for enslaved people and was bartered and traded among them. (Chapter 5)
2. The rise in the popularity of rum in the Royal Navy and the subsequent creation of grog—a mixture of rum, sugar, and lime—had the added benefit of preventing scurvy because of the vitamin C in the lime. By contrast, the French used distilled wine as their beverage of choice, which did nothing to aid in the prevention of scurvy. (Chapter 5)
3. The American colonies, having little access to alcohol, began importing molasses from France to create rum for resale. In an effort to deter trade between the American colonies and France, Britain imposed the Molasses Act. This act created resentment in the colonies further exacerbated by Britain’s inability to produce the quantity of molasses needed for American colonials. The colonials began to smuggle molasses into the colonies to avoid paying taxes. The conflict ultimately resulted in the Boston Tea Party of 1773. (Chapter 6)
CHAPTERS 7-8
Reading Check
Short Answer
1. The Age of Enlightenment gave rise to the popularity of rational thought and questioning. This new way of challenging traditional thought contributed to the popularity of coffee because of its stimulant qualities and its ability to be consumed in greater quantities. (Chapter 7)
2. Coffeehouses functioned as meeting places for men to engage in political discussion related to the British Monarchy. These discussions lead to suspicion by King Charles II, as he feared the freedom of speech in the establishments might pose a risk to his rule. (Chapter 7)
3. Coffeehouses become a hub of interaction between scientists, businessmen, and politicians in the 18th and 19th centuries. The interaction between social classes enabled individuals to communicate with a variety of specialists in different practices, aiding in academic endeavors. (Chapter 8)
CHAPTERS 9-10
Reading Check
Short Answer
1. Tea became popular when the wife of Charles II, Catherine Braganza, popularized the drink. Teashops became prominent at this time and women were permitted to enter, providing men and women with an opportunity to socialize. (Chapter 9)
2. With the increase of textile production during the Industrial Revolution, men and women were permitted tea breaks during their workday. The antibacterial effects of tea reduced the risk of infection and, via breast milk, decreased infant mortality rates. (Chapter 10)
CHAPTER 11-EPILOGUE
Reading Check
Short Answer
1. Unlike many drinks in America, soda water was enjoyed by individuals across different social classes. (Chapter 11)
2. When first produced, Coca-Cola contained trace amounts of cocaine and was patented as a medicinal stimulant for businessmen. The introduction of the product for use by women and children received backlash, and an investigation was launched to determine whether the drink with its trace amounts of cocaine was safe for children to drink. To resolve this problem, Coca-Cola agreed to remove cocaine and reduce the amount of caffeine from the drink. Additionally, Coca-Cola agreed to refrain from using children in the advertising of the product. (Chapter 11)
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