THE HISTORY OF BREAD [Illustration: EGYPTIANS THRESHING CORN BY HAND.] [Illustration: EGYPTIANS WINNOWING AND STORING CORN IN SACKS, AND A SCRIBE NOTING THE QUANTITIES.] The History of Bread From Pre-historic to Modern Times BY JOHN ASHTON [Illustration] LONDON THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY 4 Bouverie Street and 65 St. Paul’s Churchyard, E.C. 1904 LONDON: PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED. DUKE STREET, STAMFORD STREET, S.E., AND GREAT WINDMILL STREET, W. PREFACE It seems extraordinary, but it is, nevertheless, a fact, that, up to this present time, there has not been written, in the English language, a History of _Bread_, although it is called ‘the Staff of Life,’ and really is a large staple of food. There have been small _brochures_ on the subject, and large volumes on the Chemistry of Bread, its making and baking; and long controversies as to the merits of whole meal, and other kindred questions, but no History. It is to remedy this that I have written this book, in which I have endeavoured to trace Bread from Pre-historic to Modern Times. JOHN ASHTON. CONTENTS PAGE. CHAPTER I. PRE-HISTORIC BREAD 13 ” II. CORN IN EGYPT AND ASSYRIA 20 ” III. BREAD IN PALESTINE 29 ” IV. THE BREAD OF THE CLASSIC LANDS 43 ” V. BREAD IN EASTERN LANDS 56 ” VI. BREAD IN EUROPE AND AMERICA 69 ” VII. EARLY ENGLISH BREAD 83 ” VIII. HOW GRAIN BECOMES FLOUR 103 ” IX. THE MILLER AND HIS TOLLS 114 ” X. BREAD-MAKING AND BAKING 123 ” XI. OVENS ANCIENT AND MODERN 136 ” XII. THE RELIGIOUS USE OF BREAD 142 ” XIII. GINGER BREAD AND CHARITY BREAD 150 ” XIV. BREAD RIOTS 162 ” XV. LEGENDS ABOUT BREAD 170 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS EGYPTIANS THRESHING CORN BY HAND; WINNOWING AND STORING IT IN SACKS, AND A SCRIBE NOTING THE QUANTITIES _Frontispiece._ _Page_. PRE-HISTORIC MILLS AND CORN-CRUSHERS 17 EGYPTIAN REAPERS 20 EGYPTIANS STACKING CORN 21 EGYPTIANS CARRYING GRAIN TO THE THRESHING-FLOOR AND THRESHING 23 EGYPTIAN METHODS OF BREAD-MAKING 25 ASSYRIAN BREAD-MAKING 26 EGYPTIAN CAKE SELLER AND BREAD 27 A PALESTINE HAND-MILL 36 DEMETER AND TRIPTOLEMUS 45 PITHOI FOUND AT HISSARLIK 47 ETRUSCAN WOMEN POUNDING GRAIN 49 A BAKE-HOUSE AT POMPEII 51 ROMAN METHODS OF BREAD-MAKING 53