Potatoes and Slavery: Historical Insights

The Americas

• South and Central America
• United States of America

Food History of the Americas, Part 2

• Pre-Columbian America
• Inca (South America)
• Aztecs and Mayans (Central America)
• Cahokia (North America)
• Agriculture organization, importance of corn, three sisters, cacao, humble potato, quinoa, Chile vanilla
• How big civilizations fell
• The Columbian Exchange
• Ingredients originating in the Americas
• Ingredients originating from outside America
• The United States
• Historical background, slavery, modern food scene
• The Civil War, Civil Rights, and the 20th Century, impact on American food culture
• America as a "Melting Pot", regional cuisine, prohibition and its effect on bar culture
• The USA on the World Food Scene

Pre-Columbian Empires

• Map of empires (specific locations shown)

Additional Information

• To understand the impact of world cuisine on North America, it's crucial to understand the impact of pre-Columbian foods on the world.
• Quinoa (native to the Andes) is high in protein, resilient to droughts.
• Potatoes (domesticated in Peru between 3700 and 3000 BCE), were used as an essential food source, especially due to their ability to endure harsh conditions.
• Squash originated in Bolivia and surrounding areas in 500 BCE.
• Wide variety of fruits (Cape gooseberry, pepino, tamarillo, cherimoya, Giant Colombian blackberry, Inga pods) are indigenous to the Andes.
• The Aztecs and Mayans (information on their agricultural advancements, including the Aztec calendar image)
• Three Sisters farming (combining corn, beans, and squash in one farming structure).

More American Information

• Aztec Agricultural Revolution. Aztecs built their capital city on a lake, built roads above water.
• Vanilla, a member of the orchid family, is used to perfume temples.
• Corn/Maize: its development, confusion with corn, uses (tamales, tacos, tortillas, different forms like cornmeal, hominy, and grits).
• Cacao tree: one of the important trees to spring from maize god's body, drinking chocolate and uses/importance in Aztec society.
• Chile peppers as number one spice in the world, its origin, 4,000 year history of being used in food preparation with the Inca, Maya, Aztec cultures.
• Scoville pepper heat scale, including various types of peppers and their heat levels.
• Cahokia (North American pre-Columbian city).
• Common Native American foods (Succotash, Bean Bread, Fry Bread, Baked Acorn Squash, Fish and Corn Mush, Baked Beans).

The Columbian Exchange

• Food exchange between the Old and New Worlds.
• The various foods that travelled between continents because of this exchange

Food on Board

• Spanish food, preserved goods, rations for sailors.
• What foods were brought on ships during exploration and colonization.

New "Pangea"

• Map of continents.
• A suggested map of possible land masses

Beginning of the End

• Exposure to diseases (no immunity)
• Devastating population decline.

Religion in America

• Pie chart of religious affiliations.

Caribbean Sugar

• History and development of sugar as a staple food.

Triangle Trade

• Trade routes between Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

United States

• Map of the United States.
• Information related to the United States.

Fast Food Chains Sales

• Sales data of major fast food chains in 2016.

NEXT WEEK

• Preparation for the next week's topics, including timelines, immigration, and regional cuisine.

Regional Cuisine

• Regional variations in food based on cultural influences. Map showing locations.

Cuisine Map of America

• Distribution of various cuisines across the US.

Specialities

• Information on a variety of particular dishes

More Specialities

• More regional American foods, more specific food descriptions in categories, information, and illustrations.

Beverages

• Popular beverages in the US.

Immigration

• The proportion and increase of immigrants in the United States.

The Melting Pot

• Diversity in food preferences as a result of immigration and cultural mixing.

Is the USA a Democracy?

• Critical thinking questions about American democracy.

Citizens United Explained

• An explanation of the 2010 Supreme Court decision that altered the balance of political influence.