New Books Network Danielle Alesi, "Eating Animals in the Early Modern Atlantic World: Consuming Empire, 1492-1700" (Taylor & Francis, 2025)
Jan 9, 2026
Dr. Danielle Alesi, an Assistant Professor of History and author, delves into how colonial perceptions of animal edibility shifted in the Americas from 1492 to 1700. She discusses the curiosity-driven early encounters with new animals and the cultural construction of what was deemed edible. Alesi explores the connection between starvation narratives and hierarchies of animals considered fit for consumption. She also highlights the emotional layers behind colonial food practices, including the concept of 'revenge eating.' Alesi finishes with insights into modern food systems rooted in these historical dynamics.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Penguin Woodcut Provoked Student Shock
- Danielle Alesi recounts showing a woodcut of Dutch sailors bludgeoning penguins and students' shocked reactions.
Edibility Is A Cultural Construction
- Alesi argues that edibility is culturally constructed and not biologically fixed for most animals.
Travelers Translate New Tastes Into Familiar Ones
- Early European travelers described unfamiliar American animals by comparing taste and form to known foods.
