Standages book is a survey of world history as reflected through six of the most popular drinks of all time beer wine spirits coffee tea and coca cola standage begins by discussing the history of beer beer was a byproduct of the defining event of early civilization the agricultural revolution about 50000 years ago nomadic tribes traveling through the fertile crescent roughly the area between the tigris and the euphrates rivers in the middle east learned how to plant seeds . A history of the world in 6 glasses tells the story of humanity from the stone age to the 21st century through the lens of beer wine spirits coffee tea and cola beer was first made in the fertile crescent and by 3000 bce was so important to mesopotamia and egypt that it was used to pay wages in ancient greece wine became the main export of her vast seaborne trade helping spread greek culture abroad spirits such as brandy and rum fueled the age of exploration fortifying seamen on . A history of the world in 6 glasses by tom standage l summary study guide book read reviews from worlds largest community for readers this study gui. Written by people who wish to remain anonymous a history of the world in six glasses begins with advent of beer about eight thousand years ago when nomadic tribes settled and developed agriculture they soon learned how to ferment wheat grains in water. A history of the world in 6 glasses summary who knew that the history of the world could be recounted in the history of six drinks tom standage did and he does it in 300 pages about 50 pages and two sections per drink totaling twelve of the most attention grabbing book chapters youll ever read lets summarize them a drink by drink