Beer Lubricated the Rise of Civilization, Study Suggests

LiveScience ^ | November 08, 2010 | Charles Q. Choi

[Hotlanta Mike]

Could beer have helped lead to the rise of civilization? It's a possibility, some archaeologists say.

Their argument is that Stone Age farmers were domesticating cereals not so much to fill their stomachs but to lighten their heads, by turning the grains into beer. That has been their take for more than 50 years, and now one archaeologist says the evidence is getting stronger.

[Hotlanta Mike]

"The brewing of alcohol seems to have been a very early development linked with initial domestication, seen during Neolithic times in China, the Sudan, the first pottery in Greece and possibly with the first use of maize."

[GeronL]

I think its more likely the result of, not the cause of.

[hoagy62]

Well...DUH! :)

Remember our own American Founding Statesman:

“Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.”-Benjamin Franklin

[DManA]

The biggest benefit was it kept them from drinking contaminated water.

[billorites]

Is there anything beer cannot do?

[DManA]

Yes. It cannot give you a nice flat belly. Is there anything beer cannot do?

[Amerikan_Samurai]

Mmm beer.

[montag813]

Just think how many brilliant ideas were conceived over a pint of brew.

[Schnucki]

Did the Ancient Israelites Drink Beer?

[DesertRhino]

“not so much to fill their stomachs but to lighten their heads, by turning the grains into beer”

Wrong!! If you have a bushel of grain, you create more calories to consume by brewing it into beer than by baking it into bread. Not to mention you can still use the remains of the grain you brewed with, to feed livestock.

Only the greediest and most depraved of humanity will use precious grain to bake into bread. Im so going to love this thread.,,,,

[frithguild]

The biggest benefit was it kept them from drinking contaminated water.

The liver isn't the largest human internal organ for nothing.

[TexasCajun]

And the Spread of Culture.

[Amerikan_Samurai]

I think that’s a myth. If you eat and drink enough of anything, it would eventually effect your waistline.

[Le Chien Rouge]

As a 10 year bar-tending veteran, I’ve seen Beer lubricate many a young mans and woman’s ‘hookups’ with one of beers greatest creations—The Beer Goggles.

[elcid1970]

“ERRRRRRRPPPPP!!”

(Pardon)

[Amerikan_Samurai]

Beer. Helping ugly people get laid.

[himno hero]

...and acts.

“HEY! Guys watch this!”

[TheCause]

Beer is probably why I was conceived and born in the first place!

[TheCause]

Beer is probably why I was conceived and born in the first place!

[dayglored]

> As a 10 year bar-tending veteran, I’ve seen Beer lubricate many a young mans and woman’s ‘hookups’ with one of beers greatest creations—The Beer Goggles.