Super Short Summary

Sugar Changed the World by Marc Aronson and Marina Budhos explores how the cultivation of sugar has profoundly impacted societies globally in social, economic, and cultural contexts. The book covers the ancient origins of sugar, its spread through trade and conquest, and its role in driving the enslavement of Africans, leading to significant cultural developments and political revolutions, and eventually transitioning to the use of indentured workers and the discovery of alternatives like beet sugar and artificial sweeteners. Slavery and the exploitation of labor appear in this narrative.