Clay: The History and Evolution of Humankind’s Relationship with Earth’s Most Primal Element

306 Pages·2013·28.948 MB·English

by  Suzanne Staubach

The History and Evolution
of Humankind's Relationship
with Earth's Most
Primal Element
Suzanne Staubach
University Press of New England
Hanover and London
University Press of New England
www.upne.com
© 2005 Suzanne Staubach
First University Press of New England edition 2013
All rights reserved
For permission to reproduce any of the material in this book,
contact Permissions, University Press of New England, One Court
Street, Suite 250, Lebanon NH 03766; or visit www.upne.com
ISBN for paperback edition: 978-1-61168-503-9
ISBN for ebook edition: 978-1-61168-504-6
Library of Congress Control Number: 2013941836
eISBN 978-1-61168-504-6
For the truly -wonderful and amazing
Olivia and Arielle
With Joy! And deep love.
Always.
And in memory of my cousinjohn Bergholtz

CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ix
INTRODUCTION xi
1 COOKING POTS AND STORAGE JARS
Porridge, Ale, and International Commerce I
2 HEARTH AND HOME
Ovens, Heat, and the Invention of Baking 19
3 THE FIRST MACHINE AND THE DEVELOPMENT 44
OF AN INDUSTRY
4 SET THE TABLE
From a Simple Bowl to a 2,200-Piece Dinner Set 64
5 A WORD OR TWO
The Invention of Writing and Books 97
6 THE MOST POPULAR BUILDING MATERIAL
Cities, Walls, and Floors of Mud 112
7 SANITATION
A Nice Hot Bath, a Drink of Water, and Don't Forget to Flush 140
vii
CONTENTS
8 FARMING MADE EASY
Irrigation, Propagation, and Incubation 160
9 ELECTRICITY, TRANSPORTATION, AND ROCKET SCIENCE 180
10 TO YOUR HEALTH! 192
11 ART, TOYS, GODS, GODDESSES, AND FERTILITY 203
12 A FITTING DEATH
Urns, Gravestones, Companions, and Thieves 225
CONCLUSION 245
APPENDIX A: HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN PINCH POT 248
APPENDIX B: MUSEUMS 251
NOTES 255
BIBLIOGRAPHY 260
CREDITS 271
viii