“The Bread Revolution: How a Simple Food Shaped Humanity”

“Bread and Civilization: A Delicious Partnership”

When you think about the history of bread, it might not seem like the most exciting topic in the world. After all, bread has always been a staple in our diets. However, it turns out that bread may be responsible for the civilization we know today. The act of making bread has united people for thousands of years, from ancient Mesopotamia to the TikTok generation. So, let’s take a moment to explore the fascinating history of bread!

Now, let’s rise to the occasion and start loafing around in the world of bread!

The Origins of Bread

We may never know who exactly invented bread, but evidence suggests that humans have been grinding grain for at least 32,000 years. While we can’t pinpoint the exact moment when humanity transitioned from grinding grain to making bread, it’s clear that we were already crafting it by the epipaleolithic era, around 14,000 years ago. The earliest known bread makers were the Natufians, who created flatbreads from wild plant roots, wheat, and barley.

Fast forward to about 10,000 years ago, when bread-making evolved further. People began mixing crushed grain with water, laying the dough on heated rocks, and covering it with hot ash. This coincided with the domestication of modern wheat in the Fertile Crescent. Interestingly, researchers now believe that the creation of bread may have actually sparked the development of agriculture, rather than the other way around.

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The Bread Revolution

As the domestication of wheat spread from Mesopotamia, so did bread and civilization itself. Evidence of bread consumption dates back to 9,000 BCE in places like Turkey and Europe. By 8,000 BCE, Egyptians were crafting a type of unleavened bread similar to modern-day tortillas, lending credence to the playful theory that the Pyramids of Giza might have had Taco Bells inside them!

Over time, Egyptian bread became lighter and fluffier. They discovered that allowing wheat dough to ferment produced gases that turned flatbread into loaves. Egyptians loved their bread so much that they used it, along with beer, as currency until the introduction of coins in the first millennium BCE. They also pioneered baking ovens, further advancing the art of bread-making.

Meanwhile, the people of the Indus Valley, in modern-day India and Pakistan, were using vertical clay ovens, known as tandoors, as early as 5,000 years ago. These ovens functioned like fireplaces, reaching temperatures of 900°F and are still used today. The Greeks contributed their own innovations in bread ovens, creating freestanding ovens with access doors—a concept that remains popular.

The Rise of Leavening

Leavening in bread dates back around 9,000 years, but the consistent pairing of bread with domesticated yeast likely didn’t happen until about 1,000 BCE. The origins of this practice remain unclear, with theories pointing to Mesopotamia, Rome, or Egypt. Classical bakers often used leftover dough, infused with sugar and water, as a starter for sourdough. Thanks to the Roman author Pliny the Elder, we know that the Greeks and Iberians produced lighter breads by incorporating foam skimmed off beer.

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Bread and beer share the same basic ingredients: grain, yeast, and water, albeit in different proportions. Some scholars even theorize that the Egyptians may have created beer by first making yeasted bread and then fermenting it in water. After all, beer is essentially liquid bread that can get you tipsy!

Bread in the Middle Ages

In the Middle Ages, wooden dinnerware didn’t appear until the 15th century. Instead, diners used trenchers, large stale pieces of bread that served as plates or bowls. When the meal was done, you could eat the trencher or toss it to the dog. No dishes required!

During this time, white bread made from wheat was considered high-status, while the average person often ate darker bread made from oats or rye, sometimes mixed with lentils, acorns, or peas. A popular blend was maslin, a loaf made from a mixture of rye and wheat flour.

The Industrial Revolution and Sliced Bread

The Industrial Revolution (1760-1840) transformed many industries, but it wasn’t until the early 20th century that bread-making really took off. In 1912, inventor Otto Frederick Rohwedder created a prototype for a bread-slicing machine. By 1928, the Chillicothe Baking Company became the first to sell pre-sliced bread, dubbing it “the greatest forward step in baking since bread was wrapped.” This phrase eventually led to the popular saying, “the greatest thing since sliced bread.”

In 1930, Wonder Bread released its pre-sliced version, quickly becoming a staple in American supermarkets. Everything seemed to be going well until World War II brought its challenges. In 1942, the U.S. government banned sliced bread to conserve wax paper and metal for the war effort. This decision was met with public outcry, and the ban was lifted after just a few months, illustrating how much people relied on this innovation.

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The Diverse World of Bread

Between 2010 and 2020, the most popular types of bread in the U.S. included whole wheat, white, Italian, French, and sourdough. But the world is full of diverse bread types! In Afghanistan, they have bolani, a delicious flatbread filled with potatoes, spinach, or lentils. El Salvador’s pupusas are grilled cornbread filled with beans or cheese. In Norway, they enjoy lefse, a sweet potato bread served with butter, cinnamon, and sugar.

Even Navajo fry bread symbolizes perseverance, made from ingredients provided by the government after forced resettlement. Australian damper bread is a simple mix of water, flour, and salt, sometimes enhanced with butter or milk.

The Pandemic Baking Boom

When the U.S. went into lockdown in March 2020 due to the pandemic, many people turned to baking as a hobby. This surge in bread-making was driven by a desire for control during a crisis, relaxation during uncertainty, and simply needing something to do. Flour mills struggled to keep up with demand, and yeast became harder to find than concert tickets. The popularity of sourdough soared, demonstrating that making bread is a fundamental part of being human.

So, what do you think? What’s your favorite type of bread? Have you tried baking your own? Let us know in the comments below!

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