Connections:
ItalyandSouth America
![](/nationalgeographic/pioneer_september_october_2020/explorer_classroom/836290/globe.720_0_1.png)
![](/nationalgeographic/pioneer_september_october_2020/explorer_classroom/836292/NGX0920_EE_24.320_0_1.png)
Australia
Antarctica
South
America
North
America
Europe
Africa
ASIA
Italy
Pacific
Ocean
Indian
Ocean
atlantic
Ocean
pacific
Ocean
Italiansareknownforusingtomatoesintheircooking.Thinkofpizzaandpastasauces.But,ifyouthinkthetomatoisfromItaly,thinkagain!ItisbelievedthattomatoescamefromSouthAmericaandwerefirstbroughttoEuropebySpanishexplorersinthe15thcentury.Atfirst,tomatoeswereusedfordecoration,asEuropeanslovedtheircolor.However,tomatoesgrewwellinthewarmMediterraneanclimate.Bythe16thcentury,theywerebeingusedbyItaliancooks.So,ifyoulovetomatosauceonyourpizza,youhaveSouthAmericanfarmersfromlongagoto thank.
KeeplearningwiththeNationalGeographicEducation Community!
Weinviteyoutojointheconversationwithfelloweducatorswho,likeyou,areleaninginwithstudentsandcommunitiestoilluminateandprotectthewondersofourworld.FindusonFacebookandTwitter bysearching @NatGeoEducation.