The Cultural Assimilation Of Coffee And Its Rise As A Global Commodity: How Coffee Was Introduced And Imbedded Itself In European Cultures
Open Access
Author:
La Ban, Arthur
Area of Honors:
History
Degree:
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Prakash Kumar, Thesis Supervisor Jacob F. Lee, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
Coffee Commodity Cultural Assimilation Coffee History
Abstract:
The introduction of coffee into European cultures became a powerful drive for expanding trade around the globe and incentivized the study of agriculture for many European cultures. But before the push for an increase in coffee production by European colonial powers, coffee entered Europe as a foreign and controversial commodity. The story of coffee’s cultural assimilation into European cultures that kick-started this push for expansion is less studied and equally as vital to the commodities history. It is coffee's role as a blank canvas that allowed for people to culturally assimilate the drink allowing it to become so popular in the first place. By following a set of similar steps no matter where it landed, coffee would find a way to emulate the local society and integrate itself into daily life. Coffee started as an exotic commodity in each of the cultures it found itself in. Over time it transformed into a household beverage across the continent of Europe. Through historical accounts and analysis, this thesis looks to establish and analyze how these steps of assimilation were able to establish a multicultural empire.
