HIST 2055 - Food and Drink in World History

Food and drink are essential for our survival, but what does thinking about the food/drink reveal about history and about ourselves? The aim of this course is to explore food/drink in world history, and to pose the following question: what can food/drink tell us about a society at a particular time? The course will allow you to develop your abilities to think critically about everyday practices such as cooking, eating, drinking and meals, and to locate them within their historical context so you can reflect on the roles that such practices have played in the development of various societies. How have food/drink been used to display status? What rituals are associated with drinking and why? What makes a 'national cuisine'? How have changing gender roles influenced the family meal? Has globalisation negatively influenced our eating habits? How do we make 'ethical' food choices? Students should complete the course with an understanding of the role of food/drink over the course of history; an appreciation of the economic, social, and political contexts that have influenced practices associated with the production and consumption of food/drink; and the ability to engage in independent research on an issue relating to the history of food/drink.