Part I Summary and Analysis

Sugar Changed the World: A Story of Magic, Spice, Slavery, Freedom, and Science by Marc Aronson and Marina Budhos tells the history of sugar. Beginning with the discovery of sugar, the authors trace the history of how it became popular, how its usage spread around the world, and how it affected the lives of the rich and the poor.

Part I

From Magic to Spice - In 326 BC, Alexander the Great appointed his close friend as Captain of an 800-ship fleet, then he sent the fleet off to investigate India's coast. His friend, Nearchus, came upon the "sweet reed." The Greeks knew a bit about India, thanks to the writings of Herodotus. In the writings, Herodotus reported that Darius the First invaded India around 510 BC. While he was there, his men found a sweet reed that produced honey. Most...