Beer and Civilization Beer Production and the Birth of Civilization

At various points in human history, developments in civilization have occurred due to various catalysts. Eighteenth century was characterized by the emergence of the Enlightenment, where secularization and rationalization became the dominant forms of socio-political thinking. Nineteenth century, meanwhile, was known for giving way to Industrial Revolution, leading to the emergence and development of modernism and capitalism that prevailed from the 20th century to the present. Despite these catalysts and developments in civilization at every point in history, the question of how civilization began is an interesting inquiry, allowing us to understand when humanity had truly begun its ascent towards higher social and intellectual progress.

One of the theories presented about the origin of civilization is the theory that the production of beer served as the catalyst for a new civilization to begin. Beer production, was traced back 10,000 years ago, when extant early human societies included the Sumerians and Egyptians, among others. The theory posits that with the discovery of beer and beer-making, human societies ceased being nomadic; the desire to make beer out of barley necessitated sedentary living -- that is, raising livestock and planting crops. Sedentary living, consequently, paved the way for a culture and eventually, a civilization to begin.

However, this theory was also negated by other arguments that assert that it was bread-making, and not beer-making that helped initiate the emergence of civilization. Thus, this paper presents the pros and cons of the theory, specifically centering on information that support arguments for and against the "beer theory of civilization."

Arguing for the beer theory of civilization, Stoppkotte (2001), in his report presented the possibility that indeed, beer had been one of the primary factors that helped develop civilization. His report established...

In the words of beer makers interviewed for the report stated that "[t]here is pretty strong evidence that after the first sampling of fermented beverages, man realized he had to end his nomadic life and settle down to grow grains and to continue to produce the beer." This statement has historical basis, as scholars on ancient cultures discovered that beer-making began in Babylon 8,000 years ago. Even the Amazonia was found to have begun beer-making 2,000 years before the Babylonians practiced it (Bamforth, 2003:25).
One of the earliest manifestations of the popularity of beer-making among ancient cultures was the clay tablet discovered in Mesopotamia, dated 4,000 years ago. The Beer Institute (2001) described the clay tablet as "a recipe for beer." What made this discovery extraordinary is that it was believed that the "formula" or recipe itself was "handed down from the god Enki himself." This evidence, a clay tablet containing a recipe for beer, served as proof that beer is more than a product that gave birth to civilization, it was also a product considered as religious and perhaps, even 'god-send' to the Mesopotamians.

Babylonians have also considered this man-made product as a religious artifact. They had sixteen (16) kinds of beer, made from different sources (barley, wheat, and honey). The relation of beer to Babylonian life was narrated in the epic of Gilgamesh, wherein people underwent a personal change within themselves after drinking beer. This passage in the epic was interpreted as a transition of humanity towards civilization, and out of primitiveness:

Enkidu, a shaggy, unkempt, almost bestial primitive man, who ate grass and could milk wild animals, wanted to test his strength against Gilgamesh, the demigod-like sovereign. Taking no chances, Gilgamesh sent a (prostitute) to Enkidu…