USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -Wheat originated in the “cradle of civilization” in the Tigris and Euphrates river valley, near what is now Iraq. The Roman goddess, Ceres, who was deemed protector of the grain, gave grains their common name today – “cereal.”

Detailed explanation-2: -Although wheat was originally domesticated in what is now the Middle East, it quickly spread to the far corners of the world. Unlike rice or maize, wheat is able to be grown in almost every climate and elevation, which is why wheat is grown on more land area worldwide than any other food crop.

Detailed explanation-3: -When Europeans first touched the shores of the Americas, Old World crops such as wheat, barley, rice, and turnips had not traveled west across the Atlantic, and New World crops such as maize, white potatoes, sweet potatoes, and manioc had not traveled east to Europe.

Detailed explanation-4: -The archaeological record suggests that wheat was first cultivated in the regions of the Fertile Crescent around 9600 BCE.

Detailed explanation-5: -Wheat was a very important crop in the 15th and 16th centuries. It was brought to western America after the discovery of North and South America. It was used as a major crop for food and income for the new world.