ELI5 Beer - why it was central to historical society?

How did ancient sailors rely on beer for hydration? What does history tell us about alcohol's role in survival? Why was beer so essential for laborers in ancient Egypt, especially during pyramid construction? Why is beer considered more important than other alcoholic beverages in historical contexts? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: xyekaterina, yamidamian, breeze_in_the_trees, bitobear, nesquiksand, gumburcules, kriber123, mckoijion To the community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [e-mail]