500 Years of The History of Bread in images

Much of my understanding of bread has come from many years of collecting historical images around bread and farming. These images are some of my favourite spanning the collection of bread history in my library at The Sourdough School.

My first wages from the bakery as an apprentice were spent on an image of bread being made from an Brocante in Terrasson-Lavilledieu in Southwest France. I felt connected to baking, but more than that, it sparked a curiosity about images in comprehending our bread and the relationship between the way we bake eat and share bread and agricultural history.

Reflecting on technological progress is crucial, especially considering the impact of bread on our health today. These images are ordered in a timeline giving social context and, depicting the communal aspects of baking, daily life, and how bread making evolved.

The images offer insights into agrarian economies, agro-economics, and how changes in our economic structure have impacted food. They illustrate the impact of agricultural practices on production, highlighting the relationship between geography, agriculture, and the types of bread produced with different grains.

Click on the image to enlarge – this is a large gallery and can take minute or two to load.

I have chosen these images because when viewed in order they provide invaluable insights (especially when viewing bread through an evolutionary lens) allowing us to see a timeline of the technological advancements and the Industrial Revolution. These details are key to how the BALM protocol, that we use at The School evolved and and they reveal the innovations in farming, milling, harvesting, kneading with machines, and how baking has been transformed over the centuries from nourishing us and working synergistically with nature, to the ultra processed bread that the majority of people eat today.

More information on the relevance of these historical images

It is fascinating, especially considering the current homogenisation of bread. The fact that we are all eating the same bread worries me. Historical references remind us that each area had its own grain and unique way of making bread. This is a powerful reminder that not all bread is the same.

Complex historical contexts, including social unrest and hunger, show how bread or the lack thereof could change political landscapes. Images of bread riots illustrate how food was key to stable governments. Examining the historical context provides a comprehensive understanding of bread’s socio-economic and political impact.

These images capture the nuances of art, techniques, regional variations, and knowledge passed down through generations. I feel connected to previous generations of bakers through this visual preservation. Celebrating and connecting to the richness of global bread traditions is crucial, making this library indispensable for understanding the history of bread and agriculture. Images offer a multi-dimensional perspective that written records alone cannot provide.

This technological, cultural, and social evolution of bread-making allows us to understand today’s bread, its diversity, and its heritage. Looking backward sometimes helps us move forward. I hope you enjoy the library. These are my favourite images, but I have many more, and I often find myself looking deeply into them, appreciating my part in this rich tapestry of bread evolution.