Renaissance Frat Boys

I recently had the pleasure of hearing Professor of Classics Michael Fontaine speak about his current research surrounding alcohol consumption in history, both in the classical era as well as Renaissance Europe. As someone study Latin, as well as a general student of history, this talk was one of particular importance and interest to me. It struck me, firstly, to see that while “binge drinking,” as commonly understood in modern America, is not viewed as kindly throughout the rest of the world, nor throughout history. In fact, I learned, its origins lie in distinctly European societies, as a result of the knightly class losing its medieval role in society and looking for something to “fill the void” as it were. While I was thouroughly engrossed by Professor Fontaine’s elucidation of this aspect of European history, I am not interested in looking further, beyond Europe. What was the relationship of, say, the ancient Chinese with alcohol? Or the Maya, or the Indians?

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