MBaggese:
DaddysKat: The invention of beer has been argued to be responsible for humanity's ability to develop technology and build civilization.
Here it is...I focused on civilization.
As the Mayans. Aztecs, etc...even back to much earlier via the Egyptians all used available technology..plus, think of the pyramids built...and to this day, no firm consensus has been formed (as I'm aware of) as to how they were erected...so, Technology is just not 1's and 0's (as we know it today).
Heck, even the ability to roll 10K lb blocks of stone over round poles, was a "technical advancement" instead of trying to drag them:)
To get this back on topic, I have done a bit of research myself. The current Inca archaeologist, Alexei Vranic from the University of California, Los Angeles, believes the current South American drink known as Chicha existed as far back as 1100 AD, and was consumed by the adults and children alike. He also believes that some form of alcoholic beverage existed for all the large ancient American civilizations.
It has been argued that all the ancient tribes and civilizations needed to create some form of alcoholic beverage to kill the microbes found in the local water or risk disease and possible annihilation. Since these brews were boiled, many of the bacteria found in the local fresh water was killed. Furthermore, the alcohol was yet another method of distilling the water. Without these brewed beverages, large civilizations such as the ancient American cultures of the Aztecs, Mayans and Incas would not have flourished. The same is true in the Eastern ancients; however, we do have historic evidence to substantiate my argument.
As for Coca leaves, since little writings have been found and nothing documenting the Coca plant, this is merely speculation. While there is evidence of ancient maize and yucca cultivation, there isn't any evidence that the ancient Americans cultivated Coca. The theory of Coca, while interesting, is very similar to the theory that ancient aliens landed on earth and helped these ancient civilizations build these temples and pyramids. No real definitive evidence exist.
So, in conclusion, alcohol is responsible for humanity's ability to develop technology and build civilization ... and if it weren't for the ancient alcoholic beverages, the generic "man" we know today would not exist.