The Timeless Role of Bread in Human Civilization

Bread, one of the oldest and most significant baked goods, has been a crucial part of human diets for thousands of years. Made from a variety of grains like wheat, corn, rye, rice, barley, oats, and even buckwheat, bread in its many forms has served as a staple food since ancient times.

Archaeological findings reveal that wheat was stored in human settlements as far back as 8,000 years ago. Both the ancient Greeks and Romans viewed bread as a fundamental food, engaging in early debates over the merits of white versus brown bread. Even earlier, during the Stone Age, people crafted dense cakes from barley and wheat ground with stones. A millstone, dating back 7,500 years, has been discovered, underscoring the deep-rooted history of bread-making.

The cultivation of cereals may have been a key factor in the shift from nomadic lifestyles to settled communities. When early humans discovered that certain foods could be stored through the winter and harvested in the summer, it marked a turning point in the development of civilization. This dependable food supply allowed people to develop skills beyond hunting, fishing, and herding.

Today, bread remains a global dietary staple. Modern baking innovations and the introduction of diverse grains and ingredients have expanded the variety of bread available, catering to different tastes and nutritional preferences. The popularity of whole grain and gluten-free options reflects a growing awareness of health, while the revival of artisanal bread-making highlights a renewed appreciation for traditional methods and quality ingredients.

Bread's lasting importance stems from its adaptability and cultural significance. It is more than just a food; it represents sustenance and community. From ancient civilizations to the present, bread has remained an essential part of human life, mirroring our collective history and evolving culinary traditions.
The Timeless Role of Bread in Human Civilization

History of cocoa beans as barter currency

It was the first civilization of the Americas, the Olmec, living some three millennia ago in the humid lowlands of the Mexican Gulf Coast, who first domesticated the cocoa plant.

The cacao bean was so significant to the local cultures that it was used as a currency in trade, given to warriors as a post-battle reward, and served at royal feasts.

During the fourteenth century, the Aztecs conquered a large part of Central America and became the dominant power. In addition to enjoying chocolatl as a beverage, the Aztecs so prized the beans that they used them as currency. In an Aztec market, one bean could buy a tamale or a tomato; 100 beans could buy a turkey. A copper ax cost a whopping 8,000 beans.

A rabbit could be purchased for 10 cacao beans or a llama for 50 beans. A large successful household might be taxed 20 of the 50 Ziquipilli it produced in a year.

Aztec warriors were paid with cocoa beans and it was part of their regular military rations. The great wealth of the Aztec ruler Moctezuma was based on cacao currency.

The Mayan people of southeastern Mexico also used cocoa beans as currency, to buy anything from avocados to turkeys to sex.

In 1544, the cocoa industry at this time began to flourish with the help of Dominican Friars who were assigned to learn the secrets of the bean from the Mayans. Once they perfected their craft of processing the cocoa, the friars began to share their discovery with the wider world, leading to cocoa being used as currency in Europe as it once was among ancient Mayans and Aztecs.
History of cocoa beans as barter currency