This month we studied the history of sugar in class 7. It is a very interesting topic that addresses many major developments that shaped our past. By following the history of sugar these developments become interconnected and easier to understand. So, what were these developments?

•First Global Trade Networks

Sugar cane originally comes from South-East Asia, but through trade it spread to China and India. In India they developed methods to refine sugar.

•Spread of Islam

Through more trade, sugar reached the Middle-East where the new religion of Islam gained followers and quickly spread through conquest to North-Africa and the south of Spain. Sugar spread with it.

•The Crusades

The Crusades were violent clashes between Christians and Muslims, but it also led to the exchange of goods and ideas. Sugar made it's way to the North of Europe, but it was a very rare commodity and sugar sculptures were used by the elite to show off their wealth.

•European Explorations

Driven by their desire for cheaper spices (and sugar), Europeans started to explore and discovered new trade routes to Asia and a whole new continent with a lot of fertile ground for sugar cane.

•Transatlantic Slave Trade

Although Europeans discovered a lot of suitable land to grow sugar cane, there was no one to work the land. The local population died of European diseases and no settlers wanted to come. They decided to enslave Africans and ship them to the Americas. The system of Triangular Trade was born and millions of slaves worked on (sugar) plantations in terrible conditions.

•Industrial Revolution

Everything changed in the 19th century. The discovery of sugar beet meant that sugar could be grown locally and refined in the new steam powered factories. As a result, sugar became much cheaper and available for everyone.

•Modern Technology & Society

As (food) technology kept developing, a new type of sugar, fructose, started to be added to many (processed) foods. Combined with increased levels of wealth and lower levels of physical activity, obesity skyrocketed and a sugar crisis was born.

The history of sugar is bitter sweet.

Originally posted on Instagram on April 22, 2023