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10,000 BCE
Neolithic Revolution Begins
People started settling in permanent settlements. Gradually, the former hunter-gatherers switched to agriculture and domesticated animals. These settlements pave the way for the incredible civilizations of the future. Beer also came about due to the rise of agriculture. -
9000 BCE
Agriculture
People start intentionally cultivating wheat and barley. This switch from hunting-gathering to farming allowed civilizations to become bigger and better. The rise of agriculture made permanent settlements more reliable and populations could now expand easier. -
6000 BCE
Pottery
People start making pottery. This aids in the storage of items, notably wine and mead. The ability to store food and drinks for longer period enables civilizations to be more permanent. -
3400 BCE
Writing Emerges
Writing emerges as a way to track transactions and/or taxes more easily. Cuneiform, the ancient Sumerian writing, is one of the oldest writing systems known. Writing tracked the rations for each person, which often included how much beer people would get. -
2500 BCE
Construction of the Pyramids begins
The Pyramids of the Giza plateau begin their construction. The workers who built the pyramids were paid in beer. Although they took many years to fully complete, they are one of the wonders of the Ancient World. The Pyramids served as the burial grounds for many pharaohs, including Tutankhamen. -
Period: 500 BCE to 400 BCE
Golden Age of Greece
The Golden Age of Greece was when contemporary Western thought began to emerge. It was then that Greek thinkers were able to lay the foundations for modern Western philosophy, science, politics, and law. They were able to do this by having debate-like discussions, many that could have occurred during Symposia. Democracy was formed during the Golden Age of Greece.
[https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47e4-4cd1-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99] -
212 BCE
Rome conquers the Greek colony of Syracuse
When Rome conquered the Greek colony of Syracuse, it led to the Romans beginning to adopt Greek ways of thinking and life. The Romans actually took the Greek way of life much further than it had ever been before, despite the two cultures being different at first. Wine helped to bridge the differences between the Greeks and Romans. -
404
Peloponnesian War ends
The Peloponnesian War was between Sparta and Athens. The other Greek city-states were divided by supporting different sides. Sparta eventually beat Athens with the help of the Persians. There were multiple short truces during the war and the war ended with Athens in political turmoil. During the war, the vineyards were often targets and thus were trampled and burned during the fighting, harming the wine-making industry. -
570
Muhammad is born
Muhammad, at age forty, is the creator of Islam. According to myth, Allah spoke directly to Muhammad as he wrote the Koran. Allah reveals to Muhammad that wine, among other intoxicating drinks, are bad and are therefore banned in the Islam religion. As Islam spreads so does the ban on alcohol. This puts a halt on the spread of wine and sets the stage for the future debate over coffee in the Islam world. -
732
Battle of Tours
During the Battle of Tours, the Arab troops were defeated by Charles Martel. This defeat halted the advance of Islam into Europe. As Thomas Standage puts it, this battle was "one of the turning points in world history" and "marked the high-water mark of Arab influence in Europe"(Standage, 88). Martel's grandson, Charlemagne is crowned as Holy Roman Emperor, thus beginning the period during which European culture is reinstalled, and wine then becomes more popular. -
907
Tang Dynasty Ends
The Tang dynasty is regarded as a golden age in Chinese history. Li Yuan was the founder. The Silk Road aided in the spread of Buddhism and Chinese culture. Trade flourished because of the Silk Road. Tea was used as currency along the Silk Road because its value increased further from its imperial center. -
1095
The Crusades
The Crusades were a series of wars between Christians and Muslims that began in 1095. The war was fought over control of the Holy Lands. The Christians were ultimately defeated by the Muslims, but not before they captured many of the Arab sugar plantations. Sugar, sometimes in the form of molasses, can be used to make certain spirits, such as rum. -
1440
Printing Press
Johannes Gutenberg invents the printing press, which allows people to create copies of books or pamphlets much easier. Information was able to spread quicker than it ever had before. This helped the Protestant Reformation occur and spread knowledge of distillation, the process used to make spirits. -
1440
Portuguese Begin Shipping African Slaves
The Portuguese began to ship African slaves from their trading posts on Africa's west coast because they wanted extra manpower in the New World colonies. At first, the Portuguese kidnapped the slaves but later bought them from African traders using European goods. The African traders often loved alcoholic drinks, so spirits were used as a form of payment. They also shared spirits as a show of friendship. -
1492
Columbus discovers the New World
Christopher Columbus discovers the New World while looking for a Northwest Passage to the East Indies. He landed in the Caribbean and claimed the lands for Spain. He declared that the land was fit for growing sugar so thus began the sugar production that eventually led to the creation of rum. Slaves were used for growing the sugar cane because many of the native people had died from the diseases brought by the explorers. -
Period: 1517 to
The Reformation
The Reformation takes place in Europe. Martin Luther wrote and published his 95 Theses, marking the beginning of the Reformation, and cleared the way for others to question the church as well. Martin Luther created Lutheranism, John Calvin created Calvinism and King Henry VII founded the Anglican religion. The Reformation ultimately paved the path for people challenging ideas that were originally thought to be the truth. Ideas were shared through coffeehouses.
[https://youtu.be/1o8oIELbNxE] -
Period: 1550 to
Scientific Revolution
During the Scientific Revolution, many ideas, theories, and laws are discovered/proposed. Coffee helped keep the scientists’ minds alert and awake so they could develop their thoughts further. Sir Isaac Newton contributed the law of gravity during the Scientific Revolution. Nicolaus Copernicus contributed the idea of a heliocentric solar system, instead of a geocentric solar system.
[https://youtu.be/vzo8vnxSARg] -
1557
Portuguese Establish Trading Post
Portuguese establish a trading post on Macao in the Canton estuary. Goods are shipped through this post, including tea. It allowed the Chinese to minimize contact with other foreigners and levy their duties. Other European countries were disconnected from direct Chinese trade. -
Ming Dynasty ends
The Ming Dynasty was established at the end of the Mongol’s dynasty. This reinstated tea in the Chinese empire. Trade expanded, establishing cultural ties with the West. It is known for its literature, drama, and porcelain. Emperor Taizu founded the Ming dynasty. -
Marriage of Charles II to Catherine of Braganza
Catherine of Braganza's incredible dowry included the Portuguese trading posts of Bombay and Tangier. This allowed France to open trade with Portuguese possessions overseas. She brought with her the custom of drinking tea. -
Great Fire of London
The Great Fire of London was made worse by the dry wood after a hot summer. It spread easily and took four days to extinguish. Thousands of buildings were destroyed but only six people died. Many coffee houses burned down during the fire. -
Sir Isaac Newton publishes his book on gravity
Sir Isaac Newton publishes his Philosophiae naturalis principia mathematica in which he demonstrates the principle of gravity and how it can help explain the motions of celestial bodies. He showed how the inverse-square law can be used with gravity. Due to his work he is regarded as many as the greatest scientist in history. Robert Hookie later claimed that he gave Newton the idea for the inverse-square law with gravity, after having a discussion at a coffeehouse with other scientists. -
Anglo-Dutch Wars End
There were multiple wars between Britain and the Dutch Republic, the last one being brought about by the interference of the Dutch in the American Revolution. Britain won the war and the Dutch East India Company was dissolved in 1795. This granted Britain almost entire control of the global tea trade, boosting their economy. The Dutch Republic also lost its position as a world power. -
Camille Desmoulins gives a speech
Camille Desmoulins gives a speech to a crowd of people at Café de Foy, ultimately setting the French Revolution in motion. Two days later the Bastille was stormed by an angry mob. The French Revolution ended the French monarchy, which was replaced with Napoleon's military regime. -
Battle at Trafalgar
The British defeats the French and Spanish fleets at Trafalgar. The victory ensures that Napoleon wouldn't try to invade Britain again. It is thought that the lemon and lime juice that the British sailors had mixed into their grog(rum mixed with water) boosted their vitamin C. That meant they had more resistance to scurvy, while the French drank spirits(eau-de-vie) without the lemon and lime juice. Therefore the French had less resistance to scurvy, aiding in the British victory. -
Civil War Ends
The Civil War ends. Abraham Lincoln announces that slaves are now free, upsetting many people, particularly in the south. Ultimately, this leads to his assassination. After the war ends, telegraph and railway networks spread across the country, paving the way for America’s economy to overtake Britain’s. With a better industry set up, products could be made and distributed much easier. This would help Coca-Cola in the future. -
Pure Food and Drug Act
The Pure Food and Drug Act aided the bureau that eventually evolved into the FDA. Journalism had a big impact on the passage of the act because people were made more aware of the products they were using. At first, Coca-Cola thought it would be okay, but then in 1911, it was put on trial because of the caffeine it contained. However, the court decided in favor of Coca-Cola. -
Period: to
The Great Depression
The Great Depression was the worst economic downturn in the entire history of the industrialized world. It began with the 1929 Wall Street stock market crash. During the worst point, around 15 million Americans were unemployed and many banks had failed. Companies like Coca-Cola were challenged by the terrible economic situation but ultimately persevered. World War II actually helped America rise out of the Great Depression.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCQfMWAikyU] -
Japan Attacks Pearl Harbor
Japan attacks Pearl Harbor. The attack led to FDR asking Congress to declare war on Japan. This brings America into World War II. However, Japan and America had been tense with one another because of Japan wanting to take over China. Coca-Cola went along with all the servicemen, spreading its influence across the globe. -
Period: to
Cold War
The Cold War was between the Soviet Union and America. Technology(missiles) and economic power were almost evenly matched, but eventually, the Soviets couldn’t compete. The Soviets had control of Cuba, resulting in a missile crisis during which there was great tension in the US. During the Cold War, Coca-Cola rose to become one of the biggest brands in the world.
[https://youtu.be/y9HjvHZfCUI]
