THE HISTORY OF CORN

Corn's history began around 9,000 years ago in Mexico when indigenous peoples domesticated the wild grass teosinte through selective breeding, transforming it from a small, hard-grained plant into the modern crop. It spread throughout the Americas via trade and migration, becoming a vital food and cultural symbol for many Native American civilizations before Europeans brought it to the rest of the world starting in the 1500s.  

Domestication in Mexico

• Origins: Corn originated from teosinte, a wild grass found in southwestern Mexico. 

• The process: Ancient farmers began selectively breeding teosinte by saving and planting seeds from plants with desirable traits, a process known as selective breeding. Over thousands of years, this led to the development of the modern corn plant. 

• Initial transformation: Early domesticated corn still looked different from modern corn, but had characteristics like more kernels per ear and easier-to-access seeds. 

Spread across the Americas

• Before European contact:

  By 1492, corn had spread from Mexico throughout North and South America, adapted to different environments, and developed into many varieties, including popcorn. 

• Native American cultivation:

  Indigenous peoples skillfully bred corn varieties to suit their local climates and developed extensive trade networks. 

• Cultural significance:

  Corn was central to the cultures of many civilizations, such as the Maya, and was used for food, ceremonial purposes, and crafts. 

Arrival in Europe and global expansion

• First contact:

  Spanish explorers like Columbus encountered corn in the Americas and brought it back to Europe in the early 1500s.

• New markets:

  Corn was later introduced to other parts of the world, including Africa and Asia, and became a global crop.