Ancient Food

Why did humans abandon hunting and gathering for sedentary communities dependent on livestock and cereal grains and governed by precursors of today's states? Most people believe that plant and animal domestication allowed humans, finally, to settle down and form agricultural villages, towns, and states, which made possible civilization, law, public order, and a presumably secure way of living. But archaeological and historical evidence challenges this narrative.

Bill Schindler takes us deep into his lifetime of archaeological research to show us why and how our dietary choices and cooking techniques need to follow our ancestors' lead and focus on nutrient density and bioavailability. Our relationship to food is filled with confusion and insecurity. Vegan or carnivore? Vegetarian or gluten-free? Keto or Mediterranean? Fasting or paleo? Every day we hear about a new ingredient that is good or bad, a new diet that promises everything.

Sourdough bread fueled the labor that built the Egyptian pyramids. The Roman Empire distributed free sourdough loaves to its citizens to maintain political stability. More recently, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, sourdough bread baking became a global phenomenon as people contended with being confined to their homes and sought distractions from their fear, uncertainty, and grief. In Sourdough Culture, environmental science professor Eric Pallant shows how throughout history, sourdough bread baking has always been about survival.

In Nourishing Diets best-selling author Sally Fallon Morell explores the diets of our primitive ancestors from around the world - from Australian Aborigines and pre-industrialized Europeans to the inhabitants of "Blue Zones" where a high percentage of the populations live to 100 years or more. In looking to the recipes and foods of the past, Fallon Morell points listeners to what they should actually be eating - the key principles of traditional diets from across cultures - and offers recipes to help translate these ideas to the modern home cook.

Delve into this captivating collection of the world's 75 most iconic menus which reveal not just the story of food, but periods of history, famous works of literature, notable events, and celebrity figures from prehistoric times up to the modern day. This fascinating miscellany of menus from around the world will educate, as well as entertain, delighting both avid foodies and the general listener.

Patrick E. McGovern takes us on a fascinating journey through time to the dawn of brewing, when our ancestors might well have made a paleo brew of wild fruits, honey, cereals, and botanicals. Early beverage makers must have marveled at the magical process of fermentation. Their amazement grew as they drank the mind-altering drinks, which were to become the medicines, religious symbols, and social lubricants of later cultures.

These days, probiotic yogurt and other "gut-friendly" foods line supermarket shelves. But what's the best way to feed our all-important microbiome - and what is a microbiome, anyway? In this engaging book, science journalist Katherine Harmon Courage investigates these questions, presenting a deep dive into the ancient food traditions and the latest research for maintaining a healthy gut.

When Bob Quinn was a kid, a stranger at a county fair gave him a few kernels of an unusual grain. Little did he know, that grain would change his life. Years later, after finishing a PhD in plant biochemistry and returning to his family's farm in Montana, Bob started experimenting with organic wheat. In the beginning, his concern wasn't health or the environment; he just wanted to make a decent living and some chance encounters led him to organics.

The clear-eyed, clear-headed lightness and energetic feeling that the combination of fresh nutrients jam-packed into certain little-known superfoods can bring you is not something you won’t want to miss experiencing. But energy is not the only benefit of eating healthy, nutrient-dense superfoods! It is common to see mood improvements, health improvements, and automatic weight loss once these nuggets of nutrition are incorporated into your diet.

Historians have long asserted that during and after the Hannibalic War, the Roman Republic's need to conscript men for long-term military service helped bring about the demise of Italy's small farms and that the misery of impoverished citizens then became fuel for the social and political conflagrations of the late republic. Nathan Rosenstein challenges this claim, showing how Rome reconciled the needs of war and agriculture throughout the middle republic.

What we eat matters—to us, and to the planet. Cool food is a game-changing new food category and way of thinking that can help fix the climate. This engaging and persuasive book will show you how to make simple choices, starting today—in the supermarket, in your kitchen, and in the world—to reduce your environmental impact. Hundreds of cool foods exist, but until now have gone largely uncelebrated for their climate-positive powers. Some of these foods may already be on your shelf, and some are just on the horizon.

How did Ancient Egyptians go about their daily lives? What was their diet? What was their clothing like? You’ll know the answers to these questions when you read this ancient history book. Learning about the ancient past will help boost your understanding of how cultures and traditions form and survive the years. Get a copy of this book today!

The social importance placed on food and wine in the Greek world was even more pronounced, with profound consequences for the rest of the world.

Learn about the unique blend of culture, tradition, music, and food from this part of South India. More focus on the Palghat (also known as Palakkad) Brahmins (Iyers, specific to that location context), a community known for their unique traits and social contribution. This community is known for their ancient wisdom passed on into next generations by elders in the family. Their customs and traditions in clothing, food preparations, marriage, and even in death. Some parts of these are exclusive to Palghat Iyers.

Find out what kind of superfoods were used by the Incas and other Mesoamerican (Mayan and Aztec) cultures to fight aging and promote longevity. Camu camu, quinoa, amaranth, sweet potatoes, and purple potatoes are some of the superfoods worth knowing that are readily available. Getting healthy starts with learning more about these superfoods and making them permanent additions to your pantry. Change your life right now. Live and eat like the Ancient Incas.