A Brief History of Tobacco in Our Culture
1492 - Columbus Discovers Tobacco; Jerez and Torres discover smoking
1500’s - Tobacco is introduced into Europe
1600’s - Tobacco is cultivated in the Americas
1700’s - Tobacco War/Revolutionary War in the English Colonies; Snuff popular in Europe
1800’s - Phillip Morris and RJR companies are formed in Britain
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Notes:
Oct. 12, 1492 Christopher Columbus lands in San Salvador and the indigenous Arawacks offer gifts including fruit, wooden spears, and dried leaves which gave off a fragrance.
November, 1492 Rodrigo de Jerez and Luis de Torres observe and report that the natives wrapped dried tobacco leaves in palm or maize. After lighting one end the Indians began “drinking” the smoke through the other. Jerez soon after becomes the first European smoker. Later he was imprisoned by the holy inquisitors for smoking.