How Pizza Became Pizza

Flatbreads are prevalent in many cultures worldwide, but none have achieved as much global fame as pizza. In the U.S. alone, more than three billion pizzas are sold yearly, and you can find a pizzeria in virtually any city on Earth. However, this simple dish only existed through human exploration and intercultural discovery.

Early references to pizza date back to Ancient Greece, but the modern version of pizza, which includes bread, cheese, and tomato, didn't emerge until the 1700s in Naples, a southern Italian city. Naples has always been a relatively poor city with a tradition of simple food. Focaccia (an Italian bread) with various toppings was an everyday sustenance. However, with the voyages of Europeans to the West, a new ingredient was introduced that would change everything.

Tomatoes were first brought to Europe during these voyages. Initially, they were considered poisonous and were often relegated to the poorer communities, which is how they ended up in Naples. It turned out that the southern climate of Naples was ideal for growing tomatoes. Eventually, they started incorporating tomatoes with their flatbreads, and voilà, they had discovered something extraordinary.

Since then, pizza has exploded in popularity, with different variations and styles emerging in other regions. This evolution of pizza is a potent testimony to how intercultural exchanges and human exploration can spark remarkable innovations, reshaping the gastronomical landscape of our world.

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