A brie(f) history of cheese - Paul Kindstedt

TED-Ed
13 Dec 201805:34
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRCheese, one of humanity's oldest foods, originated around 8000 BCE with Neolithic farmers in the Fertile Crescent. The accidental discovery of cheesemaking from souring milk provided a survival advantage, offering essential nutrients with less lactose. Cheese became a staple in Mesopotamia, with records of cheese quotas dating back to the Bronze Age. The spread of cheesemaking techniques led to a global variety of cheeses, from hard cheeses in Mongolia to paneer in South Asia. Roman soldiers relied on it as a ration, and medieval monks perfected many popular types. Today, cheese is a global phenomenon, with 22 billion kilograms produced annually, yet local farms continue the ancient tradition of handcrafting this beloved food.

Takeaways
  • 🧀 Cheese is one of the oldest human-made foods, dating back to 8000 BCE with Neolithic farmers in the Fertile Crescent.
  • 🐐 The rise of agriculture led to the domestication of sheep and goats, providing a source of milk which was essential for early cheesemaking.
  • 🍼 Fresh milk would naturally sour and coagulate into curds due to lactic acid, which ancient farmers discovered could be eaten as a spreadable meal.
  • 🌾 The discovery of cheese offered a significant survival advantage, providing essential nutrients with less lactose and the ability to be preserved for long periods.
  • 🍽️ Cheese became a standard commodity in maritime trade by the end of the Bronze Age and a staple in Mesopotamian culinary and religious life.
  • 📜 Some of the earliest known writing includes records of cheese quotas and varieties used in different rituals across Mesopotamia.
  • 🐄 The use of rennet, an animal byproduct, was referenced in records from Turkey and helped in creating a wider variety of harder cheeses.
  • 🌍 Different cultures around the world embraced cheese, adding their own flavors and methods of production, such as sundried Byaslag in Mongolia and paneer in South Asia.
  • 🏛 The Romans considered 'dry cheese' an essential ration for their soldiers, highlighting its importance in their military and society.
  • 🧙‍♂️ Medieval monks in Benedictine monasteries across Europe played a significant role in refining and perfecting many popular types of cheese, including Parmesan and Roquefort.
  • 🏞️ Swiss cheesemaking in the Alps was notably successful, leading to profitable trade conflicts and the evolution of various cow’s milk cheeses.
  • 🏭 The Industrial Revolution moved cheese production from monasteries to factories, leading to the modern, global cheese industry.
Q & A

  • When is the earliest known cheesemaking practice believed to have begun?

    -The earliest known cheesemaking practice is believed to have begun as early as 8000 BCE by Neolithic farmers living in the Fertile Crescent.

  • What was the significance of cheese in the diet of Neolithic people?

    -Cheese provided Neolithic people with an enormous survival advantage by offering essential proteins, fats, and minerals from milk with much less lactose, which many found difficult to process.

  • How did ancient farmers discover the process of cheesemaking?

    -Ancient farmers discovered cheesemaking when they observed that fresh milk left in warm conditions would sour, causing proteins to coagulate into soft clumps or curds.

  • What was the role of whey in the early cheesemaking process?

    -Whey was the liquid drained from the curds during the cheesemaking process, and it was later named as such.

  • How did cheese contribute to the preservation of nutrients during times of scarcity?

    -Cheese could be preserved and stockpiled, allowing essential nutrients to be consumed during scarce famines and long winters.

  • What evidence of early cheesemaking has been found in Turkey from the 7th millennium BCE?

    -Pottery fragments from the 7th millennium BCE found in Turkey still contain residues of cheese and butter, indicating the use of dairy products.

  • How was cheese utilized in the Bronze Age?

    -By the end of the Bronze Age, cheese was a standard commodity in maritime trade throughout the eastern Mediterranean.

  • What role did cheese play in the culinary and religious life of Mesopotamian city-states?

    -In Mesopotamia, cheese became a staple of culinary and religious life, with some of the earliest known writings including administrative records of cheese quotas for various rituals and populations.

  • What is rennet and how did it impact cheesemaking?

    -Rennet is an animal byproduct produced in the stomachs of certain mammals that can accelerate and control coagulation in cheesemaking, leading to a wider variety of new, harder cheeses.

  • How did cheesemaking evolve under Roman rule?

    -Under Roman rule, 'dry cheese' or 'caseus aridus' became an essential ration for the nearly 500,000 soldiers guarding the vast borders of the Roman Empire.

  • What impact did the Industrial Revolution have on cheese production?

    -The Industrial Revolution moved cheese production out of monasteries and into machinery, leading to a more industrialized and widespread production of cheese.

  • How has cheesemaking continued to evolve over the centuries?

    -Cheesemaking continued to evolve through the medieval period in European manors and monasteries, with monks experimenting with different types of milk, practices, and aging processes, leading to many popular cheeses we know today.

  • What is the current global production of cheese?

    -Today, the world produces roughly 22 billion kilograms of cheese a year, which is shipped and consumed around the globe.

  • How have local farms maintained the tradition of cheesemaking?

    -Local farms are still following in the footsteps of their Neolithic ancestors, handcrafting cheese as one of humanity's oldest and favorite foods.

Outlines
00:00
🧀 The Origins of Cheesemaking

The script explores the ancient origins of cheesemaking, tracing it back to 8000 BCE in the Fertile Crescent. Early Neolithic farmers discovered cheese when they noticed milk would sour and coagulate into curds. This accidental discovery provided a significant survival advantage, as cheese offered the nutritional benefits of milk with less lactose, and it was preservable. The script mentions the discovery's impact on ancient societies, such as in Mesopotamia where cheese became a staple in culinary and religious practices, and how it was traded in the eastern Mediterranean by the Bronze Age. The evolution of cheesemaking is highlighted, including the use of rennet to improve the process and the development of various cheese types across different cultures, such as Byaslag in Mongolia, cottage cheese in Egypt, paneer in South Asia, and feta and pecorino romano in the Mediterranean. The role of Roman soldiers and medieval monks in the cheesemaking tradition is also discussed, with the latter perfecting many popular cheeses like Parmesan and Roquefort.

05:02
🌾 The Enduring Legacy of Cheese

This paragraph focuses on the enduring legacy of cheese, highlighting that despite the passage of 10,000 years and the industrialization of many food production processes, local farms continue the tradition of handcrafting cheese. It emphasizes the connection between modern cheesemakers and their Neolithic ancestors, showcasing the timeless appeal and cultural significance of this ancient food. The script suggests that cheese remains a beloved food across the globe, with an annual production of around 22 billion kilograms, reflecting its integral role in human history and cuisine.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Cheesemaking
Cheesemaking refers to the process of making cheese, a dairy product derived from milk. It is central to the video's theme, showcasing the historical and cultural significance of cheese production. The script describes how Neolithic farmers discovered cheesemaking by observing milk coagulate into curds, which they then consumed or further processed. This early cheesemaking provided a survival advantage by offering a preserved food source rich in nutrients.
💡Fertile Crescent
The Fertile Crescent is a region in the Middle East that was one of the earliest cradles of civilization. In the context of the video, it is where the earliest Neolithic farmers began the legacy of cheesemaking around 8000 BCE. The region's agricultural development facilitated the domestication of animals like sheep and goats, which provided milk for cheese production.
💡Curds
Curds are the solid parts of milk that coagulate and separate from the liquid, known as whey, during the cheesemaking process. The script explains that ancient farmers discovered curds when they observed milk souring and coagulating into soft clumps. These curds became the fundamental building blocks of cheese, which could then be further processed into various forms.
💡Whey
Whey is the liquid byproduct that remains after milk has been curdled and the solids (curds) have been separated. The script mentions that when farmers discovered the transformation of milk into curds, they drained off the whey, which allowed them to consume the curds directly or use them to make cheese. Whey plays a significant role in the cheesemaking process and has its own uses and nutritional benefits.
💡Lactose
Lactose is a sugar found in milk and dairy products. The script points out that while milk is rich in essential nutrients, it also contains high quantities of lactose, which can be difficult for many people to digest. Cheese, however, contains much less lactose, making it a more digestible source of milk's nutritional benefits.
💡Preservation
Preservation in the context of the video refers to the ability to store food for extended periods, which was crucial for survival during times of scarcity. The script explains that cheese could be preserved and stockpiled, providing a source of essential nutrients during famines and long winters. This preservation aspect highlights the practical benefits of cheesemaking for ancient civilizations.
💡Bronze Age
The Bronze Age was a historical period characterized by the use of bronze, the earliest alloy of copper and tin. In the video, it is mentioned that by the end of the Bronze Age, cheese had become a standard commodity in maritime trade throughout the eastern Mediterranean. This indicates the importance and widespread trade of cheese during this era.
💡Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia, often referred to as the 'cradle of civilization,' was one of the first areas where cheese became a staple in culinary and religious life. The script mentions that some of the earliest known writings from Mesopotamia include administrative records of cheese quotas for various rituals and populations, showcasing the cultural and economic significance of cheese in this region.
💡Rennet
Rennet is an enzyme traditionally obtained from the stomachs of young mammals, used to coagulate milk in cheesemaking. The script notes that records from nearby civilizations in Turkey referenced rennet, highlighting its role in accelerating and controlling the coagulation process. The use of rennet allowed for the production of a wider variety of harder cheeses.
💡Medieval Monasteries
Medieval monasteries played a significant role in the development and refinement of cheesemaking practices. The script explains that in hundreds of Benedictine monasteries across Europe, monks experimented with different types of milk, cheesemaking techniques, and aging processes. This experimentation led to the creation of many popular cheeses that are still enjoyed today, such as Parmesan and Roquefort.
💡Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period of rapid industrialization that transformed the way goods were produced. In the context of the video, it led to the shift of cheese production from monasteries to mechanized processes. This change allowed for increased efficiency and output, making cheese more widely available and contributing to the modern cheese industry.
Highlights

Cheese is one of the oldest human foods, dating back to 8000 BCE with the Neolithic farmers in the Fertile Crescent.

The invention of cheese was closely linked to the rise of agriculture and domestication of animals like sheep and goats.

Sour milk led to the accidental discovery of cheese when lactic acids caused proteins to coagulate into curds.

Cheese provided a survival advantage by offering essential nutrients with less lactose, and it could be preserved for long periods.

Pottery fragments from the 7th millennium BCE in Turkey show evidence of cheese and butter.

Cheese became a standard commodity in maritime trade by the end of the Bronze Age in the eastern Mediterranean.

In Mesopotamia, cheese was integral to culinary and religious practices, with administrative records dating back to some of the earliest known writings.

Rennet, an animal byproduct, was used to accelerate and control the cheese coagulation process.

Different cultures developed unique cheese varieties, such as the hard, sundried Byaslag made by Mongolians using yaks' milk.

Egyptians made cottage cheese using reed mats to strain the whey, a practice that dates back to ancient times.

In South Asia, paneer was made by coagulating milk with food acids and hanging it to dry into loafs.

The Greeks were known for producing salty brined feta cheese and a harder variety similar to today’s pecorino romano.

Under Roman rule, 'dry cheese' was an essential ration for the soldiers guarding the Roman Empire's vast borders.

Cheesemaking evolved in medieval European manors and Benedictine monasteries, leading to the creation of many popular cheeses like Parmesan and Roquefort.

Swiss cheesemaking in the Alps was particularly successful, and by the 14th century, it became a profitable trade that attracted conflict.

The Industrial Revolution moved cheese production from monasteries to machinery, increasing efficiency and scale.

Today, the world produces around 22 billion kilograms of cheese annually, reflecting its enduring popularity.

Local farms continue the legacy of Neolithic cheesemaking, handcrafting this ancient and beloved food.

Transcripts

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Cheese HistoryNeolithicAgricultureDairyCulinaryPreservationTrade CommodityMediterraneanCheesemakingCultural Staple