Alcohol in the Ancient World

From the earliest Neolithic experiments with fermentation to the elaborate drinking cultures of the Classical world, alcohol has infused and influenced social life for thousands of years. This course provides an introduction to the production and consumption of beer, wine, and other beverages in the ancient world. Case studies from across the globe demonstrate that alcohol was (and is) a uniquely potent form of material culture, embedded within complex webs of social, political, economic, and ritual activity.