The History of Chocolate

Examine the 4000 year old history of chocolate from its ancient Mesoamerican origins as a bitter drink of ritual and medicine, to the growth of modern "chocolate culture" and its place as a mass produced globalized product of the twentieth century. Investigate how chocolate came to be imported into Europe by the Spanish during the sixteenth century, as well as its later importance to colonization, the slave trade, and the Industrial Revolution. Students also explore current academic research on the topic and encounter a wide range of primary sources including art, literature, and the economic and administrative documents of daily life.

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