The Delicious History of Pizza: From Ancient Origins to a Global Phenomenon
Pizza, one of the favorite dishes across the globe seems to have a history that is as interesting as its taste. From the ancient civilizations to the globalized world it is today, pizza has indeed traveled a long distance and is a mouthwatering example of culinary development.
The Ancient Civilization: How Pizza Carved a Niche for Itself
While the term pizza may be of Italian origins, the practice of placing meat or vegetables on flatbreads can be traced back to over hundreds of years ago. Bread in its similar forms was used by several civilizations like Egyptians, the Greeks and Romans to put on certain base ingredients with oil, herbs and even cheese. In Greece, there was a bread that was called plakous, which consists of tomato and other such ingredients, but the idea of Wellington style flat breads owes its origins to Naples in Italy.
Naples: Capitalization of Pizza
Naples in 18th century had a huge population of people with low paying jobs with little spare change. These low wage workers were a fast growing population that needed to be supplied food and in return the vast population of street vendors supplied them with disposable meals that were cheap, flatbread with chunks of tomatoes, oil, cheese and even meat were used. In other words, these early forms of pizza were cheap and mostly consumed for nutrition.
As pressed tomatoes became an indispensable element in pizzas, let us evaluate its historical context, albeit briefly: Spread across various continents through the 16th century, tomatoes were initially viewed with contempt where they were hailed for their dubious nature but any fears for the flavour-some ingredient soon dissipated as the tomatoes found a strong inclination in pizza, particularly, during the napolitans throughout the late 18th to the early 19th century which resulted in a revolution for the array of diverse cuisine pizza now had to offer.
Pizza in the eyes of a Queen
A dessert fit for a monarch! If you ever want to try pizza with a different experience, its wise to consider pizza married to the Margherita queen. To map this out clearly, Queen Margherita of Savoy, aged 53, visiting Naples in the year of 1889 implicitly secured the identity of the now-famous burnt road pizza. When in quest of an authentic delicacy, the Queen had turned to pizza artisan Raffaele Esposito, who was commissioned to praise the lights of Italy with the dish he created. Esposito followed suit and in a rite of passage to burn road containing the flavors of basils, mozzarella and tomatoes, connected Italy’s culinary trifecta, marking the inception of an elegant delicacy. If a pizza needed dedication, history has it that Queen Margherita single handedly altered pizza’s persona and what it meant to be engraved the taste buds of nobility.
The Unfolding Narrative of Pizza in America
Pizza received its introduction in America during the late 19th and early 20th centuries alongside a massive influx of Italian immigration. It was during this time when many Italian migrants started to settle down in very diverse American working-class towns such as New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Boston and so on, and as adjusted to the American lifestyle, they started to introduce Italian American versions of their culinary dishes. The first pizzeria in the US, then only an Italian pizza joint named Lombardi’s, was opened in New York in 1905. This venue not only thrived amongst Italian American locals but also native Americans with the thirst for something new.
In the decades that followed pizza had expanded throughout the US, taking on numerous regional adaptations in the process. Most deep-dish pizzas originated and were invented in Chicago whereas New York thin crust pizza became a household name. The post-world war two period marked the influx of returning American soldiers who had tasted pizza in Italy which led to the boom of pizza consumption in America.
Pizza Conquers The Globe
Pizza is now regarded as a worldwide vend, by the mid 20th century. Multi-national fast food chains like Pizza Hut and Domino's commercialized the concept of pizza way beyond Italy and the US. Today, pizzas can be savored in the finest of varieties ranging from seafood pies in Japan to chocolate topped desert pizzas in Brazil.
There has been global acceptance of pizza primarily due to its versatility. Whether it is a simple Margherita or an intricate mix of local components, pizza finds a way to suit all different preferences and cultures.
The Future of Pizza
With the evidence presented, it is easy to assert that pizza will not end any time soon. The increase in interest towards plant based diet has opened doors for a world of innovation such as soy cheese, pizza making it possible for every diet to find something suitable. Further advancements came with apps and delivery that make ordering pizza easier than ever.
SEO Optimization: Why This Blog Matters
There is history and pizza in this blog and SEO work of the site is based on the history of pizza, origin of pizza, Margherita, Neapolitan and of pizza on the global scene. It is notable too that the purpose of focusing on these themes is to increase the chances of the blog to rank better in search engines and thus make it appealing to readers interested in the background of the pizza.
Conclusion
The history of pizza, from the primitive form to its position as a global food brand, depicts how mankind has largely embraced it. No matter where you are, be it Naples, New York or even Tokyo, when you eat a pizza, you are eating not just food but also partaking into tradition and innovation that spans over centuries. So, the next time you take a trip to one of your favorite joints to grab a pizza, take a moment and recall the very broad history that allowed its wide spread around the planet.
