Rice cultivation has a fascinating history, with prevailing theories suggesting it was first domesticated in Asia. African wild rice was cultivated early on, but was largely discarded when traders brought Asian rice to Africa. Rice cultivation in Europe began in the 10th century, and European explorers likely brought rice to the New World. Rice is a staple in many regional foods and is enjoyed by many cultures.
The history of rice cultivation is undoubtedly a fascinating one. It is a cereal considered important by many people of the world and which has an auspicious presence in six of the seven continents. Although archaeologists and farmers know a lot about rice cultivation at present, and the history of its growth dates back several thousand years, the history of rice’s inception is not so clear-cut, evoking much scholarly debate.
Prevailing theories are that rice was first domesticated in Asia, probably in China. It is difficult to establish a date when this occurred. Some believe that the first cultivation of rice occurred around 12,000 years ago, and others date it to around 4000-5000 BC. There is strong evidence that around 1000-2000 BC, much of Asia, including India, had refined methods of growing rice.
Rice cultivation in Africa is not exactly the same and follows two different paths. African wild rice or the strain now known as O. glaberrima (different from the Asian O. sativa) may have been cultivated as early as 3500 BC, but when traders brought O. sativa in Africa, indigenous rice cultivation was largely discarded. This was possibly as early as AD 600. It was the Middle East that probably brought the African O. Sativa and it is throughout the Middle East and parts of the Mediterranean that rice had become an important crop by around 300 BC.
It took much longer for rice cultivation in Europe. Spain may have first grown it in the 10th century. Exposure to the crop would certainly have been expected during the Crusades, and contact with China initiated by explorers such as Marco Polo increased familiarity. In 10 we see serious rice cultivation in Europe in places like France.
It’s important to consider the 1400s, as this is also the beginning of the Age of Explorers; though many now believe that exploration began much earlier, especially by Asian sailors. It is clear, however, that European explorers are probably responsible for bringing rice to the “New World” and suddenly this crop became a staple in South and Central America and North America and spread to most groups of islands surrounding these continents. . Eventually, rice cultivation also occurred in Australia, although this is much later in the timeline, and serious rice growth didn’t begin until the early 20th century.
It’s so easy to think of all the regional foods that incorporate rice. Without rice, people wouldn’t have sushi, paella, arroz con pollo, jambalaya, risotto, red beans and rice, many types of curries, or various forms of rice pudding, to name just a few examples. Even a Rice Krispie® treat would be out of reach. The cultivation of this grain is representative of the power of communication between cultures and perhaps also of the fact that many people find rice a delicious grain to consume.
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