Wheat: The Grain at the Center of Civilization

Rachel Laudan Ph. D.

www.rachellaudan.com

1. Wheat as one among many grains, 20,000

B.C.-200 B.C.

Pottage

Barley Bread Porridge & Pottage

Gruel & Atole Beer & Rice ‘Wine’

Grains provision cities (25,000) and armies

2 lbs per person per day

Grain for Ea

Grain for Demeter

Civilized=Grain Eater

Barbarian=Non-Grain Eater

Grinding Slaves (20% working population grinds)

2.

Wheat the basis of the Eurasian Empires, 200 B.C.-

1900 A.D.

Libya, 13th c

China 1st c

England 15th c

6% of working population grind

4% grind

Cities up to 1 million

Roti/Chapati

Lavash

Naan

Tharid

Bakery of Eurysaces, Rome, ca 50 B.C.

Early Christian Communion with Roman Bread

Making and drying pasta 14th c

Pies baking in portable oven

Bread

For the rich For the poor

Breadstones, Wishford, England

Women march on Versailles in November 1787

3. Wheat and the Global

Dietary Crisis 1880-1920

Canadian Pacific Wheat Train, 1907

Wheat Ship South Australia to London, ca 1900

Buffalo, NY

London

Cooperative Wholesale Society Mills, London, ca. 1900

Roller Mills

Motorized Presses

French Bakery, ca 1900

Cities of 6 million

German Mobile Bakeries, WWI

Royal Navy Bakery WWII

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Global Culinary Crisis: Bread or Rice/Maize?

4. Wheat as the Grain for All,

1920s--

Cargill grail elevator, Duluth

Grain Hoppers in Vancouver

Upper Egypt Mills

Nippon Flour Mills, Japan

Cities of 20 million

Herbert Hoover sends wheat to Belgium

Embroidered flour sacks sent in thanks

Baguette in Vietnam

Hamburger in Korea

Mexican Flour Tortillas

In Japan

Pita Bread

Pan or Tortilla Arabe

Bambino in India

Grande in Zaire

Instant Noodle Vending Machine, Japan

Noodle Aisle, Vietnam

Thank You

Rachel Laudan www.rachellaudan.com

rachel@rachellaudan.com