THE HISTORY OF EATING UTENSILS
One of the key elements of any civilization is the tools and utensils used by its people for the purpose of eating and food preparation. Eating utensils are usually the first tools invented by people, as the need for them is universally experienced. Not surprisingly, eating utensils have been evolving for thousands of years.
The earliest utensils used for eating were nothing more than rough-hewn pieces of stone or wood. Over time, however, man began to make utensils from clay, creating items such as bowl and goblets. Eventually, more sophisticated metals were introduced such as bronze, silver and gold. Metals enabled the creation of utensils of diverse shapes and sizes such as ladles, spoons, forks, knives and others. Many of those items were decorated with ornate carvings and symbols indicative of their status and value.
The ancient Greeks were one of the first civilizations to use forks. They were made of either bronze or silver, and were generally 3-pronged and quite long, reaching up to 12 inches. Forks were generally reserved for wealthier citizens and were used mainly as serving utensils rather than for eating.
In Europe during the Middle Ages, most people ate with their hands. Tables as we know them did not exist until the 16th century, and forks, when used, still had two tines only. In the 16th century, Europeans started using the fork for actual eating. The standard four tined fork gained popularity and eventually became the norm. Around the same time, spoons became more widespread, taking the place of the hands for eating soup and other liquid foods.
Knives have been around since ancient times. During the Middle Ages, they were mainly used for preparation purposes. Eating knives developed during the 16th century, and by the 17th century, all necessary utensils for an elegant meal were commonplace in Europe.
Asian cultures developed somewhat different eating utensils. Chinese chopsticks probably originated in the Shang Dynasty and have been in use for over three thousand years. Many consider them the most sophisticated of all eating utensils. Japanese cuisine also traditionally employs chopsticks, though they may use knives and spoons in some instances.
To this day, eating utensils remain an important part of every cultures cuisine. Their evolution over thousands of years shows just how integral they have been to our society. Whether you use a classic fork and knife or chopsticks, the utensils on your table are a part of a long history.
