HI 245 Munch: A History of Food

Arts & Letters-History. Food. It has the power to conjure comforting memories of past meals, of loved ones, and of travels to places near and far. It is also, at the very least, necessary for survival. Writ large, however, food is about so much more than sustaining life. What people eat, how they eat it, and with whom they eat it are windows into the societies, cultures, values, and histories of all people. This course examines this history of food, beginning with our earliest human ancestors and culminating with the questions of food security and food equity that exist in the twenty-first century. Along the way, we will consider the many ways the study of food and foodways informs history in complex yet fascinating ways, as well as engage in considerations of what food might tell you about your own family's history. From time to time I will prepare food for the class, because after all this is the focus of our work as an intellectual community, and we will also do some cooking
together. Our final class project will be a meal, with lively conversation enhanced by food and drink.

Credits

3

Distribution

HIS

Offered

Odd Year Spring Semester