Harnessing the Power of Ice

There is evidence circulating that early settlements harnessed the power of ice for both food storage and food preparation. It’s likely that a glass of ice water was one of the first cooled drinks, but this would have been out of necessity. Based on where the ancients lived, cold caves and mountainous regions full of snowfalls, it’s likely ice storage was just common practice. 

They may have realized that it kept food fresher for longer periods of time, but they were not likely to understand the science behind freezing and why bacteria dies in extreme cold temperatures. It’s possible that even with a primitive sense of ice and its potential for long-term storage, hunter-gatherers would have been able to remain in a single area longer while they stored overkill and scouted new spots to make camp.

Ice making is a fairly recent development. Alexander the Great felt ice was so important that he ordered his soldiers to dig trenches and fill them with snow. This way, the legions could enjoy cooled wine during the summer time. Records from the Mediterranean regions show that ice was frequently carted down the mountain to be sold.

Ice was also viewed in a similar light to jewelry, with fine ice sculptures adorning banquets. The ancient Egyptians, who had established numerous trade routes throughout the Middle East, even had their ice shipped to them from Lebanon.

 
Ice harvesting was prominent throughout the nineteenth century, but it was a dangerous business to get into. Expeditions were sent north into Greenland, where people would bring shipments of ice back after risking their lives to carry it on foot.