POLL: Pick the Next Extra History Series! "Object History" (Patreon)

Here is the next poll for Extra History! There are some amazing options here, it's gonna be good no matter what y'all pick. Here are four topics about the objects that make our world spin, most of them food so it'll be a tasty treat (Don't eat the electricty tho)

Beer: Cornerstone of Civilization

Beer has been filling human bellies (and making them regret it the next morning) for roughly seven thousand years now—so long we have to rely on archaeology for its first appearance. And along the way, it's changed drastically, from the communal bowls and straws of Persia, to the chewy, malt-and-berry filled brews that helped medieval monks through fast days, to the industrialized global might of Anheuser-Busch, founded by German-American immigrants in 1852. But along the way, beer has changed us as well. From serving as a clean source of hydration, to the advent of pubs, to kickstarting food quality laws, it's been with us every step along the way—and may have even, in the rise of agricultural cities, helped found civilization as we know it.

Chocolate: A Bittersweet History

Who has the best chocolate—Switzerland or Belgium? Or maybe you're a fan of more recent leaders, like Indonesia or the Ivory Coast? But the story of chocolate begins 5,000 years ago in ancient Mesoamerica, where cacao beans were primarily used in religious ceremonies. Ritually consumed by the Olmecs, given as part of a marriage ceremony by the Maya, and coveted as the drink of the gods by the Aztecs, it was only with the Spanish conquest of Mexico that cacao traveled to Europe where it was paired with sugar. Not only did the drink sweep Europe, production of cacao swept the world's European colonies, produced via slave labor. And in the 1840s, when confectioners learned to create solid chocolate by adding cocoa butter, the stage was set for the rise of chocolate giants like Nestlé, Cadbury, and Hershey's—as well as widespread outrage over their methods of cocoa production. From drink of the gods to household good, we'll track the joys (and horrors) of the world's favorite candy.

Rum: Liquor, Slavery, and Rebellion

Modern rum began when enslaved Africans working on Caribbean sugarcane plantations realized they could ferment molasses, then a worthless byproduct of the sugar industry, into a sweet liquor. In a dark note of irony, they had discovered a substance that would supercharge slavery—with rum serving as one of the principal goods in the triangular trade between the Caribbean, North America, and Africa. Indeed, rum production helped Britain's New England colonies find their feet, and restrictions on the trade helped drive the colonies to revolution. It would not be rum's last insurrection, either. From its association with pirates and smugglers, to its use in navies, and its central role in Australia's Rum Rebellion, we'll track the fascinating, often dark history of this globally popular drink.

Electricity: The Age of Lightning

Though the ancients knew of electric eels and static electricity, it was not until 1600 that English scientist William Gilbert named the phenomenon electricus or "of amber" after the static charge he created rubbing a feather across the material. Then, it was off to the races—with the Leyden jar, Ben Franklin's key and kite, Galvani's discovery of bioelectricity, and Volta's battery. From there, inventors both famous and forgotten raced to light up the world, from the "current war" of Tesla and Edison, to scientists like Kelvin, Siemens and Hertz, whose names remain synonymous with the science of electrical engineering. From the voltaic pile to Faraday's motor and the Edison-Swan lightbulb, we're looking at the first explosion the jolted the world into the modern age.

What series would you like us to air on Extra History? Cast your vote(s) below and let us know!

Friendly reminder: You can vote for as many choices as you want! This style of voting helps us see what people are most interested in without having to make tough decisions between a couple of close favorites. The poll will end at 11:59 PM PT on Thursday, November 4th.

Current Schedule: Japanese Militarism --> The Empire of Brazil --> Your Vote!