Long before forks became everyday essentials, people relied on their hands, knives and spoons to eat. The earliest forks appeared in the Byzantine Empire and the Middle East, but they weren’t meant for individual diners. Instead, they were mostly used to serve food or hold large pieces of meat while they were carved.
When forks began appearing on dining tables in medieval Italy around the 11th century, they were considered extravagant. Some religious figures even criticised their use, arguing that fingers were the “natural” tools given to humans for eating. For centuries, many Europeans viewed forks as unnecessary luxuries rather than everyday necessities. It wasn’t until the Renaissance, when dining etiquette became increasingly sophisticated, that forks slowly earned a permanent place beside the plate.