Back in ancient Rome, there were street stands set up throughout cities, even fairly small cities, and larger towns even, that

served food and drink to passers-by. These street vendors seem to have been fairly standard

civilizational accoutrema, even further back in the days of the early Greeks, with some meals

enjoyed together with family for special occasions

or on holidays, but generally meals seem to have been consumed alone, sometimes produced on small

personal fire pits, but often, again, especially in more populated areas, purchased from a vendor

and eaten either on the spot or while walking to their next destination.

There's evidence that the same was true in many Asian cultures, and African cultures,

and Middle Eastern cultures. This has long been a worldwide trend. There are also traditions,

of course, found throughout history and all around the planet, that involves sitting down

with one's family or friends to share a meal. But the practical reality, the day-to-day life,

not shown on the paintings or glazed onto pottery, indicates that these were usually

periodic, idealized situations, not the common everyday routine.

The preponderance of portable foods in all of these cultures, wrapped in dough or fried to rigidity,

or packed into small boxes, or rolled in cheap materials like leaves or husks or newspaper.

This is all a testament to these foods walkable, transportable utility.

So fast food as a concept, food that is mass produced,

often systematized in its production,

and which can be prepared and served very quickly,

usually to people who are on

their way to somewhere or something else, that's been around for a while.

The drive-through version of the concept, though, originated in the United States in the 1950s.

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