It is known that tobacco came to Europe thanks to Christopher Columbus, who brought dried leaves from the America he discovered. However, the history of smoking began long before that. Rock paintings of ancient tribes demonstrate the process of smoking, while the ancients did not smoke every day, since this occupation had not yet become a habit, but was accompanied by magic rituals and communication with spirits.
The history of the origin of smoking, although not in the form in which we know it now, should be viewed from the positions of the East and West. The information that has come down to us was mainly read by historians from rock paintings, ancient frescoes and descriptions of ancient travelers.
East
Images can be found in temples in India showing priests setting fire to fragrant herbs and breathing in their smoke. It is not known for certain whether it was tobacco or other herbs, but nevertheless, this process cannot be described otherwise than smoking. Frescoes depicting smoking pipes have also survived. Similar items were found during excavations in Egypt. They were placed in the crypts of the wealthy nobility, according to historians, back in the 21st and 23rd centuries. BC.
Herodotus, describing his observations of the life of the Scythians - peoples who inhabited the territories of Eastern Europe and the Middle Ages in the era of antiquity and the Middle Ages - testified that they also inhaled the smoke of burning plants. Apparently, such practices were of a religious nature, were the key to communicating with spirits and performing magical rituals.
Ancient Chinese literature contains information on the use of various herbs for smoking, including hemp. Manipulations to fumigate patients were carried out mainly by healers or ministers of temples. Cannabis, which has narcotic properties, has been used to enter a trance for religious purposes. Also, the plants were taken orally, used in the form of an ointment. Tobacco smoking was perceived in ancient times as part of a healing ritual.
West
The West means, first of all, North and South America, where the tobacco bush originated, fully formed around 6000 BC. It is known that ancient Indian tribes discovered this plant around 1000 BC. and made attempts to use it - they smoked, chewed, rubbed themselves with it, and even made enemas to communicate with the gods. In the Huron tribe, there is an ancient legend about how a mysterious woman who was possessed by the Great Spirit saved the people from hunger. Potatoes grew in the place touched by her right hand, and corn in the left. And where she lay down to rest, tobacco began to grow. The Indians used the smoke from tobacco smoking to communicate with the Spirit. Smoking was also believed to help warriors fight hunger. Later, pipes began to appear in North America. In South America, the Indians learned how to tightly roll tobacco leaves for smoking - this continent became the birthplace of the first cigars.
