Teosinte History
Introduction How did “corn” come about? It all started with the evolution of maize, which represents a remarkable achievement in plant breeding. Over the years of evolution Maize, known as corn today, hardly resembles its original ancestor Teosinte. Originating in South Mexico, Teosinte is a wild grass common to that area. In order to understand the transformation from a wild grass to a productive cash crop one must understand the background between evolution and interdependence between humans and Teosinte. Originating in the New World Maize spread throughout the Americas once the plant was introduced. Raised first by the American Indians, the production of Maize was taught to the colonist and pilgrims. The pilgrims and colonist relied on
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Through many discoveries research shows that the domestication process started over seven thousand years ago. Through recent genetic testing and evidence, the highlands of central Mexico is believed to be the origin of Maize. This is believed to be due to the high amount of Toesinte grown near the Balas River at this time. The rapid wide spread of Maize accrued once Christopher Columbus and his crew arrived in the Americas in 1492. The production of Maize soon became popular in the South American, Caribbean, and Mesoamerican cultures. Through Maize production many of these cultures became stronger civilizations. Through religious and spiritual importance as well as family/community bonding through planting and harvesting, shown in Figure 2, Maize had a major impact on the everyday diet of the producers. As a gift to Columbus as he interacted with the Native Indians in the Caribbean’s they offered Maize to him and his crew. Once Columbus and his men returned to Spain he introduced Maize, which he had saved, as an additional food source. In the Spanish culture the production of Maize quickly caught on and rapidly grew. Through this Maize became the icon for the Pilgrims who settled at Plymouth. The first winter in the new land was harsh for the Pilgrims and their families. Through new diseases, starvation if Indians had not traded Maize with them many would have died. As the pilgrims interacted with the Indians more they were taught how to use Maize for making breads, soups, and puddings. After the Maize was planted in the ground the Indians showed the pilgrims how to properly care for and handle the
Through many discoveries research shows that the domestication process started over seven thousand years ago. Through recent genetic testing and evidence, the highlands of central Mexico is believed to be the origin of Maize. This is believed to be due to the high amount of Toesinte grown near the Balas River at this time. The rapid wide spread of Maize accrued once Christopher Columbus and his crew arrived in the Americas in 1492. The production of Maize soon became popular in the South American, Caribbean, and Mesoamerican cultures. Through Maize production many of these cultures became stronger civilizations. Through religious and spiritual importance as well as family/community bonding through planting and harvesting, shown in Figure 2, Maize had a major impact on the everyday diet of the producers. As a gift to Columbus as he interacted with the Native Indians in the Caribbean’s they offered Maize to him and his crew. Once Columbus and his men returned to Spain he introduced Maize, which he had saved, as an additional food source. In the Spanish culture the production of Maize quickly caught on and rapidly grew. Through this Maize became the icon for the Pilgrims who settled at Plymouth. The first winter in the new land was harsh for the Pilgrims and their families. Through new diseases, starvation if Indians had not traded Maize with them many would have died. As the pilgrims interacted with the Indians more they were taught how to use Maize for making breads, soups, and puddings. After the Maize was planted in the ground the Indians showed the pilgrims how to properly care for and handle the