Viking Calories and Survival Logic: Historical Diets Across Five Eras

This episode compares staple diets and eating habits across five distinct historical and economic eras, ranging from Hunter-Gatherers to the Great Depression. Learn how groups like the Vikings required massive caloric intake for grueling physical labor, while citizens in Medieval Europe relied heavily on inexpensive grain and ale for survival due to high meat costs. Each historical diet segment explains how available food sources directly influenced the health and societal structure of that civilization, often contrasting historical necessity with modern luxury. Discover how people survived with far less comfort and how ancient eating habits could inform modern dietary decisions.