HIST 425  HISTORY OF BEER

One of the most popular drinks in the world, beer in its many forms has shaped the history of civilizations around the globe from the origin of human agricultural settlement to the present day. This J-Term course will explore the world history of beer and its impact on the social, religious, political, and economic practices of people ranging from the city-states of the ancient Near East, to medieval Western Europe, to the Inca Empire situated in early modern Peru. The class will cover topics including the connection between beer and ethnic identity, the importance of beer to social and class identity, the role played by beer in industrial organization and labor specialization, as well as its role in the creation of international markets. The course will follow a combined lecture and discussion format through zoom in synchronous class meetings. Students will be responsible for preparing daily reading assignments and writing a paper on a topic of their choice about any aspect of the history of beer.