How Pizza Connects to the Big History Thresholds
WHAT IS PIZZA?
Pizza is a dish of Italian origin consisting of a flat, round base of dough baked with a topping of tomato sauce and cheese, typically with added meat or vegetables.
IMPORTANCE OF PIZZA
The main importance of pizza is simply to satisfy a person's hunger.
THRESHOLD 4 - EARTH AND THE SOLAR SYSTEM
Threshold 4 has to do with the formation of our solar system and Earth. The formation of Earth is necessary for how pizza came to be. Earth was put a perfect distance from the sun and composed of diverse elements. This proved ideal for generating Goldilocks conditions for greater complexity. Without the Earth humans would not be here to make it. After the Earth was created, life came to be. Life is Threshold 5.
THRESHOLD 5 - LIFE
The history of pizza relates to this threshold because this threshold is about life emerging on Earth slowly over time. Without life on this Earth pizza would not exist. We need animals for the ingredients and humans to be the creator of pizza. So if animals are life why aren't they able to make pizza? The answer to this question is collective learning, Threshold 6.
THRESHOLD 6 - COLLECTIVE LEARNING
Threshold 6 has to do with early human life and collective learning. Without collective learning humans would not be the dominant species. Collective learning is necessary because with it, we are able to build ideas off of each other and communicate with one another. We found more sources of food because of collective learning. We used to hunt and gather and because of collective learning we were able to transition into farming, which brings me to the next threshold.
THRESHOLD 7 - AGRICULTURE
Threshold 7 is all about agriculture. Without agriculture pizza would not be possible because we need to grow tomatoes for the pizza sauce. Agriculture was a big improvement from hunting and gathering and made our food choices more broad. We still use animals for food and need animals for the creation of pizza but pizza wouldn't be possible without farming. We used to hunt and gather but farming gave us tomatoes and many other things needed for pizza.
SOURCES
- http://historicalpizza.blogspot.com/2013/05/importancesignificance-of-pizza.html
- https://school.bighistoryproject.com/pages/console/?clientkey=57904
- http://www.pizzafacts.net/