Ancient New World Crops
The phrase "New World Crops" is usually used to describe crops that were native to North and South America before 1492 and not found anywhere else in the world at that time. Many of these crops have since been grown around the world and have often become an integral part of various culture's cuisines.
| Cereals | Maize (corn), maygrass, little barley, knotweed, and goosefoot |
|---|---|
| Pulses | Common bean, tepary bean, scarlet runner bean, lima bean, and peanut |
| Fiber | Cotton, yucca, and agave |
| Roots and Tubers | Jicama, manioc, potato, sweet potato, otato, oca |
| Fruits | Tomato, chili pepper, avocado |
| Melons | Squashes |
The new world developed agriculture much later than the fertile crescent. The following tables illustrate the crops that were grown and the chronology of domestication.
| Date | Crops | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 7000BC | Maize | Central America |
| 5000BC | Cotton | Mexico |
| 4800BC | Squash Chili Peppers Avocados Ameranth | Mexico |
| 4000BC | Maize Common Bean | Central America |
| 4000BC | Ground Nut | South America |
| 2000BC | Sunflowers Beans |
References
- ^ Diamond, Jared. Guns, Germs and Steel, W. W. Norton & Company, 1999, p. 126.
- ^ http://www.gardendigest.com/timegl.htm
