The History and Evolution of Distillation

History and Development of Distillation Distillation first developed when people realized that heating a liquid would cause its vapors to cool and condense back down into liquid form, creating a separation process for each component in its original mixture.

Early alchemists and apothecaries used distillation techniques when experimenting with medicinal compounds. This allowed for greater precision and observation during their experiments using different pieces of glassware such as flasks, alembics, and retorts for this process.

Distillation was widely practiced as part of church activities during the Middle Ages, alongside medicine and theology, across Europe and the Holy Roman Empire. Benedictines in particular established hospitals, medical schools and distilleries for use both medicinally and purifying substances for scientific research through distillation. Modern equipment developed during this time; one major technical breakthrough being Thaddeus of Florence’s invention of serpentine canal in 1280 which allowed continuous recirculation of vapors as part of distillation – an essential technical advancement.

Following the fall of Rome and into darkness that is known as the Dark Ages, distillation reemerged as a secret art practiced by heretical sects and used for magical ceremonies such as that depicted here by this Coptic manuscript from around 200 B.C. It shows botanical mixtures like juniper berries, saffron threads and cinnamon being distilled into spirits not meant for drinking but for ritual purification of souls.