Where did pepper come from in the Columbian exchange

Where did pepper come from in the Columbian exchange?

The ancient South American pepper tree ( capsicum species) is thought to have originated in the Amazonian forest of South America. It’s possible that an early form of the plant made it to South America when the first humans migrated from Africa, as it can withstand tropical climates. The first written mention of the use of peppers in the Americas is in the Florentine Codex. This 15th-century Mexican-Spanish book is an encyclopedia of pre-Columbian knowledge.

Where did pepper originate in the Columbian exchange?

The primary sources on the origin of pepper and its spread are Spanish and Portuguese chroniclers who wrote about their encounters with the New World. They describe the native South American peppers as hot and fiery and the use of the plant as a weapon and a means of torture. Their accounts vary widely, but all claim the native people used chilies to make war on each other; one corroborating account claims that they would throw chilies at each other when engaging in conflict before the Spaniards arrived.

Where did pepper originally come from in the Columbian exchange?

Is there another type of chili pepper? One of the first clues to the domestication of the chili plant may lie in the archaeological record. Chemical analysis of ceramic pots from around the world have shown that the use of chili in cooking increased after the domestication of maize from South America to Mexico about 5,200 years ago. While the use of chilies in the form of dried chili peppers appears to have begun in Mexico around 3,600 years ago, the use of hot chili peppers as a cond

What is pepper's origin in the Columbian exchange?

The first written records of pepper use date back to about 2000 years ago in India, China, Africa, and South America. In South America, the use of chili peppers is thought to have been started by the pre-Columbian Arawak people, who used the milder varieties to season their corn. Spices were traded among the people of South America, Africa, and Asia during the Columbian exchange, which is when the world's population was most heavily impacted by the introduction of new foods

When did pepper originate in the Columbian exchange?

The domestication of chili peppers is usually attributed to the pre-Columbian civilizations of Mexico and South America. However, the domestication of chili peppers is a relatively recent phenomenon. It is thought to have occurred between 6,000 and 6,500 years ago, during the early to mid-Holocene period. Researchers have found archaeological evidence of chili harvesting in northern South America, including Peru, Bolivia, and Venezuela, as early as 6,500 years ago.