National Geographic - Explorer classroom

Connections: 

ItalyandSouth America

Australia

Antarctica

South
America

North
America

Europe

Africa

ASIA

Italy

Pacific
Ocean

Indian
Ocean

atlantic
Ocean

pacific
Ocean

Italiansareknownforusingtomatoesintheircooking.Thinkofpizzaandpastasauces.But,ifyouthinkthetomatoisfromItaly,thinkagain!ItisbelievedthattomatoescamefromSouthAmericaandwerefirstbroughttoEuropebySpanishexplorersinthe
15thcentury.
Atfirst,tomatoeswereusedfordecoration,asEuropeanslovedtheircolor.However,tomatoesgrewwellinthewarmMediterraneanclimate,andbythe16th century,theywerebeingusedbyItaliancooks.So,ifyoulovetomatosauceonyourpizza,youhaveSouthAmericanfarmersfromlongagoto thank.

KeeplearningwiththeNationalGeographicEducation Community!

Weinviteyoutojointheconversationwithfelloweducatorswho,likeyou,areleaninginwithstudentsandcommunitiestoilluminateandprotectthewondersofourworld.Finduson Facebook andTwitter bysearching @NatGeoEducation.