Food and Society in Classical Antiquity

Key Themes in Ancient History

by Garnsey

This is a broad-based, comprehensive general study of food in antiquity. The book deals with food as food or nutrition, the discussion revolving around the concrete issues of food availability and the nutritional status of the population. It also treats the nonfood uses of food, focusing on the role of food in forming and marking the social hierarchy. Food defines the group, whether social, religious, philosophical or political.

Genres: History, Food, Food History, Nonfiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published April 21, 1995

Reviews

[Ida]

Read: 22/1-24
Second: 14-16/2-24: had to reread in preparation for an assignment 🙂

[Mikajelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Riktigt bra ändå. Gick igenom den antika medelhavsvärldens diet riktigt bra! Garnsey fick med allt ifrån konsumtion, diet, distribution och mycket mer utan att det blev överväldigande eller långtråkigt. Bra information.
Minuspoäng då han inte alltid specificerade vilken civilisation eller årsperiod viss information gällde. Antiken är en lång tidsperiod på över 2000 år och det skulle hjälp om han var specifik vilka år eller länder informationen gällde istället för att ganska löst mena att det gällde alla under en 2000 års lång period.

[Natascha · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want to know something about Roman diet, this is the way to go. Not only does Garnsey give an overview of the economy etc but also about the diets of less powerfull people in Roman society (women, slaves and children)and the effects it has on their health.
Some of the chapters however contain statements that have been proven to be less valuable to the academic debate. However it still has it's merrits.

[Lazz]

May come back later, but simple and Short, liked it, only read it cause i had to write a book review for class, but it turned Out to be interesting.