History of Medicine

As the world celebrates a muted Saint Patrick’s Day today, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, here’s a blog dedicated to all beer lovers around the world.  I first read about the use of beer in the ancient world during my summer reading assignment for history,  A History of the World in 6 Glasses,  by Tom Standage. It is a fantastic read and highly recommended, not just for history buffs but for anyone who likes reading about history in an informal and interesting way. Starting with a little history of Saint Patrick’s Day: it was a religious festival marking the arrival of Christianity in Ireland which was made into an official feast day. The festival has evolved into a day of revelry during which vast amounts of alcohol, particularly beer, are consumed. So in honor of Saint Patrick’s Day, here's a short history of beer and its use in ancient times for much more than just getting drunk.  Beer was one of the oldest beverages consumed by humans, second only...