Introduction

Abstract This chapter introduces the broad themes of the book, arguing that Germany was a key hub in transnational food exchanges as the world was connecting in unprecedented ways from the 1870s. The book’s consistent application of transnational methodologies makes a distinct contribution to theoretical frameworks and historiographical strands. The sub-disciplines of commodity history, food history, and technology history are enriched through a focus on the actual agents of innovation, i.e. scientists, engineers, and technology entrepreneurs. These individuals were crucial middlemen of modern capitalism. They transcended not only national but also imperial borders, making their own global food empires in the process. In addition to these broader themes, the book makes empirical contributions to the histories of sugar, rum, and beer.