Curds & Civilization: a Global History of Cheese

Dive into the astonishing, untold history of humanity’s oldest biotechnology. Curds & Civilization: A Global History of Cheese isn’t just about food – it’s a sweeping saga of human ingenuity, culture, and survival.Discover how a Neolithic accident with milk and a stomach pouch sparked a revolution. Witness cheese sustaining Roman legions, funding medieval monasteries, fueling global exploration, and driving the Industrial Revolution. Explore its sacred role in ancient Egypt, its survival secrets on the Mongol steppes, and its accidental birth in the Americas.This meticulously researched journey reveals cheese as a mirror to civilization: a driver of empire, a canvas for microbial art, a victim of industrialization, and the heart of a passionate modern revival. Uncover the science behind your favorite flavors, the fierce battles over raw milk, and the looming threat climate change poses to iconic cheeses like Roquefort and Comté.More than history, it’s a call to action. Learn how regenerative farming and conscious choices can preserve the delicious diversity born from 7,000 years of collaboration between humans, animals, microbes, and land. A must-read for food lovers, history buffs, science enthusiasts, and anyone who savors a truly remarkable story.Keywords: History of cheese, food history, culinary history, anthropology, food science, microbiology, agriculture, gastronomy, climate change food, artisan cheese, global history, cultural history, nonfiction, popular science.