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The timeline of food spans millions of years, from early humans gathering wild plants and hunting animals to the development of agriculture around 10,000 BCE, which revolutionized human society and led to the rise of civilizations.
Food continues through history with innovations like food preservation techniques, the Columbian Exchange, industrialization of food production, and modern globalization.
From the dawn of cooking in prehistoric times through the rise of agriculture and the development of diverse cuisines in ancient civilizations to the culinary innovations of the Middle Ages—this era laid the foundation for global food culture, introducing staple crops, fermentation techniques, and iconic dishes we all love today.
~2.5-1.8 million years ago: Earliest evidence of cooking.
~170,000 years ago: Cooked starchy roots and tubers in Africa.
~30,000 years ago: Earliest archaeological evidence for flour—likely processed into unleavened bread.
~9300 BCE: Figs cultivated in the Jordan Valley.
~8000 BCE: Squash grown in Mexico.
~7000 BCE:
~6000 BCE: Grapes first grown for wine in the Southern Caucasus.
~5500 BCE: Earliest secure evidence of cheesemaking in Poland.
~5000 BCE:
~4000 BCE: Watermelon domesticated in central Africa.
~3000 BCE:
Sunflowers first cultivated in North America.
South America's Andes region cultivates potato.
~2000 BCE: Visual evidence of Egyptian cheesemaking found in tomb murals
~1900 BCE:
5th century BCE: Garum (fermented fish sauce) used in Greek cuisine.
610 CE: Possible invention of the pretzel.
8th century: Original type of sushi (narezushi) introduced to Japan.
822: First mention of hops added to beer.
997: First recorded use of the term "pizza" in a Latin text from Italy.
1565: Balut is introduced to the Philippines by Chinese traders.
12th century: Wafers introduced from France into Britain.
This era was marked by global exploration and exchange of crops and culinary traditions, technological innovations in food processing and preservation, and the birth of modern food industries.
1494: First record of cucumbers cultivated in the Caribbean.
1521: Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés may have brought the first tomatoes to Europe.
1585: First recorded shipment of chocolate to Europe for commercial purposes.
17th century: Sparkling wine first appears.
1740: Harsh winter damages many crops but not potatoes—hastening their adoption in Europe.
1765: The sandwich earns its name from the Earl of Sandwich.
1767: Soda water invented in Leeds, England.
1835: Baking powder is invented.
1869: Margarine invented by Hippolyte Mège-Mouriès.
1886: Coca-Cola invented by pharmacist John Pemberton.
1892: Peanut butter developed by Dr. Ambrose Straub in St. Louis.
The modern era of food has been characterized by rapid technological advancements, globalization of cuisines, the rise of fast food and convenience products.
1901: Instant coffee invented by Satori Kato.
1920s: French fries introduced in the United States.
1928: Sliced bread first sold commercially.
1930: Twinkies invented by James Dewar.
1940: M&Ms invented by Forrest Mars Sr. and Bruce Murrie.
1950: Instant noodles invented by Momofuku Ando.
1952: Mr. Potato Head toy introduced, sparking interest in the vegetable.
1967: Big Mac introduced by McDonald's.
1971: Starbucks opens its first store in Seattle.
1972: Pringles potato chips introduced.
2003: Cronuts (croissant-doughnut hybrid) invented by Dominique Ansel.
2011: Pink slime controversy brings attention to processed meat
2013: First lab-grown burger presented to the public.
2017: Neapolitan pizza making added to UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage.
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