A research visualization traces five centuries of changes in technical and social structures and their co-evolution.
The Food Timeline
The Food Timeline researches food history and answers questions about what people ate in different eras.
About The Food Timeline
The Food Timeline is a food history reference and research service that documents what people ate in different eras. It provides food-by-food entries in timeline format, with alphabetical, subject, and site search indexes covering items from ancient grains to 20th-century commercial foods.
The site states that food history includes contradictory facts and that most foods evolve rather than have exact invention dates, so timelines are approximate. As of April 2026, content updates are paused for a few months for accessibility work, while the site remains available for reference and research.
Key features
- Food-by-food history entries organized in timeline format
- Alphabetical and subject indexes with site search
- Entries for ancient staples through early 20th-century foods
- About section describing the site's creation and history
- Option to report broken links and suggest links or topics
Best for: People researching what was eaten in different historical periods and the background of specific foods.
Good for
- Covers foods ranging from ancient grains to 1930s products
- Provides alphabetical, subject, and site search access to entries
- Remains available for reference during accessibility work
Watch out for
- Timelines are approximate because most foods evolve rather than being invented
- Content updates paused for a few months as of April 2026
- Site notes accessibility improvements are still incomplete
The Food Timeline at a glance
- Website
- foodtimeline.org
- Category
- Education & Learning › History & Humanities
- Type
- Website
- Pricing
- Not confirmed. Check the site
- Platforms
- Web
- Open source
- Not stated
- Language
- English
- Last checked
- Oct 5, 2026 · Online when checked
- Listed
- Oct 5, 2026
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The Food Timeline FAQ
Will the site remain available while updates are paused?
Yes, the website will remain available for reference and research purposes.
How do I report a broken link or suggest a link or topic?
See the instructions at the bottom of the Food Timeline homepage.
Where can I get accessibility support?
Through Virginia Tech's Accessibility Portal.
Is something wrong or out of date?
Tell us and an editor will check it.
Own this website?
Claim this listing
Claim the listing and suggest updates yourself. An editor checks every claim first.