Teaching World History with Food History

My project examines how food history case studies can be used in world history courses to help students understand and relate to major themes in world history since 1500. These themes include the Columbian Exchange, industrialization, migration, environmental change, imperialism, and economic globalization.  By examining how certain “global foods” have moved around the word and impacted different regions, students better grasp the history of global connectivity post-1500. Food is interesting and accessible to students, helping to make these somewhat abstract concepts more concrete.