History of Bread

What is bread and how has it changed over time?

Have you ever really given any thought to what bread is? No? Don't worry, you aren't alone. Most of us grew up eating bread in many shapes, flavors, and circumstances and we have developed our own idea of what bread is from those experiences. In this lesson you are going to be challenged to define bread and explore its rich history and current purpose. Bread is a fascinating food and one of the only ones that is fairly universal the world over.

Lesson Objective -

You will understand what bread is and how it has changed over time to become what we know today.

Lesson Goal -

You will define bread and express bread history as a timeline.

Chocolate Covered Bread!

Question 1 - What is Bread?

Since bread is such a huge category within our food system we all have thoughts about how to define it. We have feelings that are invoked by the mere mention of the word bread. For example, when i hear the word bread my mind immediately goes to the yeasty scent of the freshly baking bread that my mom taught me how to bake and now I bake for my children.

Close your eyes and think of bread. What images appear? What memories come to mind? What flavors and smells do you associate with that word?

Keep thinking about it as you go through the next part of the lesson. We'll come back around to this at the end.

Question 2 - How Has Bread Changed Over Time?

Create a Timeline of Bread

Timelines are a great way to organize bits of information that span a period of time. When we talk about bread that period of time is quite large! Early bread was found as far back as 8000 BC but it has changed dramatically over time to become what we call bread today. There have been changes in ingredients, in techniques, and in the equipment we use to produce it. One of the most referenced innovations is the creation of the bread slicer. Suddenly you could bring home a loaf of bread that was ALREADY sliced. Is there really anything better than sliced bread??

Your task now is to explore the history of bread. You can use the links below or do some Google searches of your own. I'd like you to spend at least 20 minutes reading about what bread was like in 8000 BC and how it has changed in many ways since then.

Look for innovations in the following areas:

Ingredients
Leavening
Equipment
Shape and Texture

A Brief History of Bread

How bread was born and its evolution in human historyFrom the Sumerians to the present day, bread is one of the oldest foods that has accompanied the existence of man in all its stages of history.

The birth and evolution of bread

Now, pick the 10 most impactful or intriguing things that you found in your exploration of bread history. Create a timeline to show what you found! (Tip: Google Drawing is a great tool for building a timeline!)

Timeline Expectations -

There must be at least 10 moments on your timeline in proper order by date. (2 points each)
Include pictures to make your timeline more interesting. (5 points)
Write a caption under your timeline that summarizes what you learned in your exploration. The caption should be 2-3 sentences long. (5 points)

When your timeline is complete go to Google Classroom and submit your assignment. There is a rubric attached to the assignment. You should check your timeline against the rubric to make sure you haven't forgotten anything.