[muawiyah]

Wheat, barley and rye are related to a degree with the development of civilization in the Middle East. Rice is strongly associated with that development in the Far East. Corn has its friends in the Americas.

Post Dark Ages European civilization owes its rise directly to the potato.

Rice, corn and potato do not contain wheat gluten.

BY THE WAY the world's most ancient still celebrated custom is Passover. "Kosher for Passover" prohibits the use of Wheat, Barley, Rye, Oats and I believe Rice ~ grains known to the ancients. In a number of ways the success of Western Civilization has depended on the "Kosher for Passover" standard.

[hunter112]

And of all the civilizations that you mention, which ones have made the most progress? The ones based on gluten-free diets, or the ones based on gluten-laden diets?

The potato co-existed with the gluten-laden diet, so bringing that up is meaningless in this discussion, although I will concede that rice and corn were the staple foods of people in the Far East and the Americas, respectively.

[Vinnie]

Isn’t corn also prohibited during Passover?

I thought that was the reason Kosher soft drinks were produced during the season.

Cane sugar used instead of corn syrup.