Learning plan cover

World history. Food history.

LEARNING PLAN

World history. Food history.

This learning plan offers a unique perspective on world history by examining how food has been central to human development, trade, conflict, and power dynamics across millennia. It's ideal for history enthusiasts, students of anthropology or sociology, food industry professionals, and anyone curious about how our daily meals connect to broader patterns of civilization, inequality, and global change.

ByCommunity User
2 h 26 m
12 coursesUpdated 4 days ago
SapiensGuns, Germs, and SteelThe Complete History of Human Civilization12 sources

How This Learning Plan Was Made

This plan was crafted by BeFreed’s proprietary AI to help you learn World history. Food history. with ease. It is curated from in-depth research on the topic and structured around the most effective learning journeys proven by BeFreed users.

Each episode delivers bite-sized, high-impact lessons distilled from world-class sources — bestselling books, research papers, and expert insights. Together, they form a sophisticated yet accessible path to mastering World history. Food history..

What You'll Learn

  • Trace the evolution of human civilization through the lens of food, from hunter-gatherers to agricultural societies
  • Understand how trade routes and food commodities like spices, salt, and sugar built empires and connected continents
  • Analyze the role of food resources in driving colonialism, slavery, and the establishment of global power structures
  • Examine how industrialization, world wars, and globalization shaped modern food systems
  • Develop critical thinking skills to address contemporary challenges in food security, sustainability, and global inequality

Explore the deep history of humanity from our earliest ancestors to the agricultural revolution, discovering how food cultivation transformed nomadic hunter-gatherers into settled civilizations.

Sapiens cover
Sapiens

A sweeping narrative of human history

9 m
Guns, Germs, and Steel cover
Guns, Germs, and Steel

Historical analysis of how geography shaped human societies and civilizations.

9 m
podcast cover
The Silk RoadsSapiensThe Lessons of HistoryWorld History Timeline: Key Eras & Civilizations - MindMap AI
6 sources
The Complete History of Human Civilization

Journey through world history from the cognitive revolution to modern times, exploring how trade routes, shared beliefs, and grand transitions shaped our interconnected world. Discover why Asia was civilization's true center and what patterns from the past reveal about our future.

9 m

Journey through medieval and early modern history to understand how the Silk Roads, spice trade, and Columbian Exchange connected continents and built empires through the pursuit of salt, sugar, and spices.

The Silk Roads cover
The Silk Roads

A sweeping reinterpretation of world history, shifting focus to Central Asia as the pivotal region shaping global civilization.

9 m
Salt cover
Salt

A captivating journey through history, exploring how salt shaped civilizations, economies, and culinary traditions across the globe.

9 m
podcast cover
Salt: A World HistoryCod: A Biography of the Fish that Changed the WorldA History of the World in 6 GlassesAn Edible History of Humanity
31 sources
Salt to Sugar: How 5 Foods Reshaped Human Civilization

From potatoes fueling Europe's rise to sugar's global impact on slavery and health, discover how key foods rewired economies and built empires. Drawing from Mark Kurlansky's works, Kevin Hall's groundbreaking research, and insights from the Huberman Lab, this episode reveals the invisible food systems that shaped our world.

12 m

Examine how control over food resources drove European colonialism, the slave trade, and the rise of global empires from the 16th to 20th centuries, fundamentally reshaping the world order.

A Splendid Exchange cover
A Splendid Exchange

A captivating journey through global trade history, from ancient silk routes to modern economic controversies, shaping human civilization.

11 m
The Anarchy cover
The Anarchy

A gripping account of the East India Company's rise to power, transforming from traders to rulers of India.

9 m
podcast cover
Native Nations1491Mayflower7 Tipping Points That Saved the World
12 sources
Columbus: The Accidental World-Changer

Explore how Columbus's unintended arrival in the Americas—while searching for a route to Asia—triggered the Columbian Exchange and permanently connected previously separate worlds, reshaping global history.

21 m

Understand how world wars, industrialization, and globalization created today's food systems, and confront the urgent challenges facing how humanity eats in the 21st century.

The Second World War cover
The Second World War

History's greatest conflict through the eyes of its greatest defender.

8 m
The Way We Eat Now cover
The Way We Eat Now

A compelling exploration of modern eating habits, their global impact, and how we can transform our relationship with food.

9 m
podcast cover
source 1source 2source 3source 4
6 sources
Why Your Food Is Designed to Hijack Your Brain

Two hosts dissect the industrial food conspiracy making us sick, comparing insights from van Tulleken, Schatzker, Attia, and Greger on ultra-processed foods, metabolic dysfunction, and practical habit strategies that actually work in real life.

31 m

Users also liked

Learn World History

Learn World History

LEARNING PLAN

Learn World History

This comprehensive world history plan provides essential context for understanding current global events, political systems, and cultural dynamics. It's ideal for anyone seeking to become a more informed global citizen, professionals working in international contexts, or learners who want to understand how past events continue to shape our present and future.

2 h 1 m4 Sections
Study global history & events

Study global history & events

LEARNING PLAN

Study global history & events

Understanding global history reveals the patterns, connections, and forces that created our modern world. This learning plan benefits anyone seeking to make sense of current events, international relations, and societal challenges through the lens of historical perspective. Whether you're a student, professional, or curious mind, these insights help you recognize how past civilizations, conflicts, and exchanges continue to influence our interconnected present.

9 h 15 m14 Sections
History in general

History in general

LEARNING PLAN

History in general

This learning plan is essential for anyone seeking to understand the forces that have shaped our modern world and develop critical thinking skills applicable far beyond history. It's particularly valuable for students, educators, professionals in policy or international relations, and curious learners who want to move beyond surface-level historical knowledge to grasp the deeper patterns and global connections that explain how we got here.

2 h 43 m4 Sections
To widen my history knowledge

To widen my history knowledge

LEARNING PLAN

To widen my history knowledge

This learning plan provides a structured journey through human history, from our earliest ancestors to contemporary times, offering essential context for understanding today's world. It's ideal for curious learners seeking to make sense of current events, professionals wanting broader perspective in their decision-making, or anyone who believes that understanding where we've been is crucial to navigating where we're going.

2 h 30 m4 Sections

From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco

BeFreed Brings Together A Global Community Of 200,000+ Curious Minds

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
platform
comments
201
thumbsUp
16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
platform
comments
201
thumbsUp
16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
platform
comments
201
thumbsUp
16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
star
star
star
star
star

See More Stories?

How people are talking about BeFreed across the web
Start your learning journey, now