Booklist Review
Learning about foods and their importance in history offers insight into topics as varied as religious movements, literature, economics, technology, and the human condition. This volume addresses the myriad ways in which foods have shaped the world we inhabit, from prehistory to the present. Nearly 100 entries cover all manner of foodstuffs, from both natural sources (think corn, eggs, peanuts) and products of the industrial age (such as Spam and Coca-Cola). But the entries do not merely describe a food; they cover history and culture: how the potato changed lives in northern Europe, particularly Ireland; and how the potato famine led to the foundation of the science of plant pathology. One entry documents how the consumption of tea and spices fostered global exploration, and another how citrus fruits led to the prevention of scurvy. Perhaps most important, this book enables readers to grasp the connections between the history of foods and the Columbian Exchange, the widespread transfer of animals, plants, culture, human populations, technology, and ideas between the American and Afro-Eurasian hemispheres in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, related to European colonization and trade. With broad, easy-to-read coverage, this well-written resource is recommended for high-school students and undergraduates as well as the general public interested in the relationship of the history of food to culture.--Shonrock, Diana Copyright 2015 Booklist
Choice Review
This book by independent scholar and historian Cumo provides accounts of the ways a variety of whole and composite foods have contributed to the development of civilizations or played important roles in history. Sweeteners, condiments, beverages as foods, and fungi are discussed, along with whole foods such as plant- and animal-based products and such diverse composite-food items as chop suey, pancakes, sandwiches, spam, and weight-loss products, to name but a few. Entries are arranged alphabetically, and each contains a brief statement of the food's origin, common uses, and importance in history and human development, along with further readings. The text is written in a clear, engaging style with interesting yet relevant anecdotes. Alphabetical and topical lists help readers discover the content, although page numbers in these sections would have been convenient. The index is comprehensive and the bibliography helpful. Summing Up: Recommended. All readership levels. --Beth C. Thomsett-Scott, University of North Texas
![Cover image for Foods that changed history [electronic resource] / Christopher Cumo.](/client/assets/5.1326/ctx//client/images/no_image.png "Cover image for Foods that changed history [electronic resource] / Christopher Cumo.")