[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:06.79,0:00:12.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This chimpanzee stumbles \Nacross a windfall of overripe plums.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:12.12,0:00:14.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Many of them have split open,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:14.08,0:00:17.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,drawing him \Nto their intoxicating fruity odor.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:17.60,0:00:19.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He gorges himself
Dialogue: 0,0:00:19.03,0:00:23.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and begins to experience some… \Nstrange effects.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:23.04,0:00:26.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This unwitting ape \Nhas stumbled on a process
Dialogue: 0,0:00:26.03,0:00:28.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that humans will eventually harness
Dialogue: 0,0:00:28.18,0:00:33.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to create \Nbeer, wine, and other alcoholic drinks.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:33.19,0:00:37.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The sugars in overripe fruit \Nattract microscopic organisms
Dialogue: 0,0:00:37.44,0:00:38.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,known as yeasts.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:38.88,0:00:43.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As the yeasts feed on the fruit sugars \Nthey produce a compound called ethanol—
Dialogue: 0,0:00:43.78,0:00:46.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the type of alcohol \Nin alcoholic beverages.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:46.79,0:00:49.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This process is called fermentation.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:49.77,0:00:51.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Nobody knows exactly when
Dialogue: 0,0:00:51.86,0:00:54.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,humans began \Nto create fermented beverages.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:54.61,0:00:59.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The earliest known evidence \Ncomes from 7,000 BCE in China,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:59.57,0:01:01.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where residue in clay pots
Dialogue: 0,0:01:01.68,0:01:04.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,has revealed that people \Nwere making an alcoholic beverage
Dialogue: 0,0:01:04.88,0:01:09.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from fermented rice, millet, \Ngrapes, and honey.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:09.31,0:01:11.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Within a few thousand years,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:11.11,0:01:15.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,cultures all over the world \Nwere fermenting their own drinks.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:15.44,0:01:19.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Ancient Mesopotamians and Egyptians \Nmade beer throughout the year
Dialogue: 0,0:01:19.66,0:01:21.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from stored cereal grains.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:21.92,0:01:24.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This beer \Nwas available to all social classes,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:24.84,0:01:28.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and workers \Neven received it in their daily rations.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:28.23,0:01:29.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They also made wine,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:29.92,0:01:32.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but because the climate \Nwasn’t ideal for growing grapes,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:32.88,0:01:36.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it was a rare and expensive delicacy.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:36.21,0:01:40.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,By contrast, in Greece and Rome, \Nwhere grapes grew more easily,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:40.16,0:01:45.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,wine was as readily available \Nas beer was in Egypt and Mesopotamia.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:45.07,0:01:48.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because yeasts \Nwill ferment basically any plant sugars,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:48.70,0:01:50.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,ancient peoples made alcohol
Dialogue: 0,0:01:50.62,0:01:53.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from whatever crops and plants \Ngrew where they lived.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:53.100,0:01:57.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In South America, \Npeople made chicha from grains,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:57.20,0:01:59.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,sometimes adding hallucinogenic herbs.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:59.91,0:02:03.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In what’s now Mexico, \Npulque, made from cactus sap,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:03.81,0:02:05.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was the drink of choice,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:05.32,0:02:09.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,while East Africans \Nmade banana and palm beer.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:09.48,0:02:13.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And in the area that’s now Japan, \Npeople made sake from rice.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:13.92,0:02:17.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Almost every region of the globe \Nhad its own fermented drinks.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:17.69,0:02:21.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As alcohol consumption \Nbecame part of everyday life,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:21.12,0:02:25.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,some authorities latched onto effects \Nthey perceived as positive—
Dialogue: 0,0:02:25.68,0:02:28.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Greek physicians \Nconsidered wine to be good for health,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:28.92,0:02:32.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and poets \Ntestified to its creative qualities.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:32.30,0:02:36.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Others were more concerned \Nabout alcohol’s potential for abuse.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:36.43,0:02:38.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Greek philosophers promoted temperance.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:38.97,0:02:43.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Early Jewish and Christian writers \Nin Europe integrated wine into rituals
Dialogue: 0,0:02:43.55,0:02:46.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but considered excessive intoxication \Na sin.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:46.94,0:02:49.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And in the middle east, \NAfrica, and Spain,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:49.72,0:02:52.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,an Islamic rule \Nagainst praying while drunk
Dialogue: 0,0:02:52.69,0:02:57.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,gradually solidified \Ninto a general ban on alcohol.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:57.05,0:03:01.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Ancient fermented beverages \Nhad relatively low alcohol content.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:01.61,0:03:04.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,At about 13% alcohol,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:04.06,0:03:07.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the by-products wild yeasts \Ngenerate during fermentation
Dialogue: 0,0:03:07.33,0:03:09.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,become toxic and kill them.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:09.69,0:03:11.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When the yeasts die,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:11.22,0:03:15.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,fermentation stops \Nand the alcohol content levels off.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:15.00,0:03:18.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So for thousands of years, \Nalcohol content was limited.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:18.90,0:03:21.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That changed \Nwith the invention of a process
Dialogue: 0,0:03:21.23,0:03:22.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,called distillation.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:22.83,0:03:27.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,9th century Arabic writings \Ndescribe boiling fermented liquids
Dialogue: 0,0:03:27.28,0:03:29.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to vaporize the alcohol in them.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:29.71,0:03:32.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Alcohol boils \Nat a lower temperature than water,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:32.68,0:03:34.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so it vaporizes first.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:34.74,0:03:39.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Capture this vapor, cool it down, \Nand what’s left is liquid alcohol
Dialogue: 0,0:03:39.49,0:03:43.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,much more concentrated \Nthan any fermented beverage.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:43.80,0:03:47.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,At first, these stronger spirits \Nwere used for medicinal purposes.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:47.99,0:03:51.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Then, spirits became \Nan important trade commodity
Dialogue: 0,0:03:51.18,0:03:55.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because, unlike beer and wine, \Nthey didn’t spoil.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:55.10,0:03:56.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Rum made from sugar
Dialogue: 0,0:03:56.67,0:03:59.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,harvested in European colonies \Nin the Caribbean
Dialogue: 0,0:03:59.36,0:04:01.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,became a staple for sailors
Dialogue: 0,0:04:01.38,0:04:03.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and was traded to North America.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:03.60,0:04:06.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Europeans brought \Nbrandy and gin to Africa
Dialogue: 0,0:04:06.66,0:04:09.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and traded it \Nfor enslaved people, land,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:09.58,0:04:12.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and goods like palm oil and rubber.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:12.25,0:04:16.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Spirits became \Na form of money in these regions.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:16.00,0:04:17.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,During the Age of Exploration,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:17.90,0:04:21.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,spirits played a crucial role \Nin long distance sea voyages.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:21.74,0:04:25.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Sailing from Europe to east Asia \Nand the Americas could take months,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:25.68,0:04:28.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and keeping water fresh \Nfor the crews was a challenge.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:28.85,0:04:33.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Adding a bucket of brandy \Nto a water barrel kept water fresh longer
Dialogue: 0,0:04:33.73,0:04:38.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because alcohol is a preservative \Nthat kills harmful microbes.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:38.52,0:04:40.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So by the 1600s,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:40.32,0:04:43.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,alcohol had gone from \Nsimply giving animals a buzz
Dialogue: 0,0:04:43.89,0:04:49.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to fueling global trade and exploration— \Nalong with all their consequences.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:49.75,0:04:50.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As time went on,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:50.100,0:04:55.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,its role in human society \Nwould only get more complicated.