History of Alcohol
The early history of alcohol
Historians believe that the first alcohol was created as far back as the Neolithic period (around 10,000 B.C.). There is ample evidence to suggest that beverages were being fermented during this time and that beer was already able on a wide scale. Flash forward 6,000 years. Egyptian drawings and pictographs show wine as a common part of life at the time. The Egyptians were serious about their beer and wine. They believed that the god Osiris invented beer – and made it a daily part of life in Egyptian households. Beer and wine were both offered up to the gods as divine offering. Alcohol was used in a variety of ways in ancient Egypt, including medicinal and nutritional purposes, and most notably as part of the burial process. Egyptians stored wine in the tombs of the dead so that it could be consumed in the after-life.
Alcohol was developed and consumed early on in the development of several countries and societies, including China, Greece, Babylon and throughout the Islamic world. In this last instance, Muslim scientists were the first to isolate ethanol as a pure compound – and also led the way in the production of distilled alcohol, first producing the substance during the 8th century. They created a still that featured a cooled collection area which allowed for distilling the substance without freezing.
Moving forward into the early modern era of the 16th – 19th centuries, the major churches of the world were all in agreement that alcohol was gift from God and was to be used (in moderation of course) to enhance life and health. This was the prevailing viewpoint of some of the most influential religious leaders of the time including Martin Luther, John Calvin and others. Ironically, drunkenness was, during this period, considered a sin.
Across Europe, consumption (and abuse) of alcohol during this period was very common. Individuals across the globe were moving away from alcohol as a solely medicinal product, and towards its use as a spirit. Playing a large role in this shift were the introduction of sparkling champagne in the 1600's by wine-master Dom Perignon and the growth in popularity of grain spirits such as whisky. Although Whiskey had been a staple of Scotland and Ireland since the 15th century, it took hundreds of years for the growth of the product to really kick in.
Alcohol abuse in America
Perhaps nowhere is as deeply tied to alcohol consumption than colonial America. As they landed the Mayflower, Puritans were believed to have brought more beer than water into the new world. These Puritans believed that consuming wine and beer was actually much safer than drinking water, which in Europe was often contaminated with pollution and waste. The Puritans also saw alcohol as possessing medicinal healing powers, and as an enhancement to life in general.
The Puritan settlers found creating their own beer difficult in North America. The New England area was fertile for raising hops, but the supply was short and orders had to be placed back to England for the amounts needed to maintain the settler's way of life.
As for wine, the settlers made several varieties out of fruits indigenous to the area. Then, to enhance production further, expert winemakers were brought in from France to show the settlers the finer points of wine production.
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