Forks

First Mention: Ancient Greeks

Use: Eat food, show off, hopefully not stab the person sitting next to you

The Kitchen fork, a stable of dining today. Can you imagine chowing down spaghetti or a salad without forks? When we think of forks today, we cannot imagine a world without them, after all they seem so nature and are so abundant. Millions of plastic forks spew out of the bowels of Ronald McDonald and the pockets of that plastic faced King of Burgers. But the fact of the matter is that forks were considered a high luxury and were kept out of the mainstream for a good part of our history. In fact, it was not until the 19^th century that forks actually started catching on to the mainstream, and even then they were slowly adopted.

We can trace back the history of the fork to the Ancient Greeks who used something resembling a fork, but more like a double bladed knife. This utensil was used to cut meat and hold it in place. Soon by the 7^th century A.D. forks cough on in the royal courts of the Middle East, and from the 10^th century to 13^th century were further integrated into the Byzantium royal order. It took the Italians a while to grasp the concept of forks however, for they only began utilizing forks in the 16^th century. From there, the aristocratic fork spread out into Europe, only to face a block when crossing the English Chanel.

The British at first did not see the reason for forks. After all, “why should a person need a fork when God has given him hands?” Yet, soon enough not even the pompous British could ignore the temptations of the fork.

Keep in mind though, the forks we speak of have not really changed since the two prone forks the Greeks used. It was not until the Germans developed the four pronged forks we are sued to today in the 19^th century that forks fell from their cushioned stardom and into the grubby hands of the common folks.

Regardless however, forks did their part in helping people figure out who is richer. It just took us a few centuries to realize we can actually eat with them as well.