The bestselling author ofA History of the World in 6 Glassescharts the enlightening history of humanity through the foods we eat.More than simply sustenance, food historically has been a kind of technology, changing the course of human progress by helping to build empires, promote industrialization, and decide the outcomes of wars. Tom Standage draws on archaeology, anthropology, and economics to reveal how food has helped shape and transform societies around the world, from the emergence of farming in China by 7500 b.c. to the use of sugar cane and corn to make ethanol today.An Edible History of Humanityis a fully satisfying account of human history.