Ask anyone who they believe invented pizza, and Italy will almost always be the response. Italians developed and perfected their style of pizza making, but they were not the only culture that appreciated the ease and deliciousness of the dish. Some people even credit the Chinese with the invention, but the Greeks (and others) also had a role.
Ancient Pizza Design
The Greeks baked a flatbread known as plakousin mud ovens. The exact date of when this meal choice began is unknown. The flatbread in Greece included oil, spices, garlic, and cheese on top. The creation resembled the modern version known as focaccia bread.
The meal was a simple one, but it was popular with workers that needed a fast, inexpensive, and filling workday lunch. Since the average worker was the most common customer for the bread, the food became a popular item for street vendors to offer. The same relationship occurred for street vendors and workers once the flatbread arrived in Naples.
Early Naples Residents
Residents from the Greek colony of Cumae expanded and founded a new city called Parthenopearound 600 B.C. Parthenopelater became Naples, a city that many people credit with the invention of the pizza. There are a few variations on how the invention of pizza took place in this city.
Some reports suggest that the Greek settlers brought their flatbread recipes with them and expanded their sales in their new home. Other reports state that it was something that Italian bakers created when they used their excess dough by selling the warmed flatbread to customers that lacked the money to buy anything more elaborate.
The Italian version of the flatbread eventually included toppings that many pizza fans still prefer today like tomatoes, cheese, and anchovies. However, the official version of Italian pizza arrived in the late 1800s. The credit goes to RaffaeleEsposito who made his version of the flatbread for King Umberto and Queen Margheritaduring a visit.
Esposito named a certain recipe the Pizza Margheritain honor of the queen because of her fondness for the simple combination. Pizza Margheritacame with mozzarella, basil, and tomatoes. Margheritapizza is available today in the United States and is technically what people get when they order a cheese pizza.
Other Possible Influences
The Greeks, however, were not the first to enjoy flatbread. Thousands and thousands of years ago, people in the Middle East were already consuming flatbread. The consumers of the Middle Eastern bread used their versions as pockets for ingredients rather than a base, but there are similarities.
One theory is that the English word for the Middle Eastern bread (pita) may have come from the ancient Greek word, pikte. Some believed that pikte, translated to pictain Latin, later became the word pizza.
The Chinese also enter the tale of the development of pizza. Marco Polo discovered congyou bing, a scallion pancake, when visiting the country of China. He developed an affinity for the dish during his trip and convinced bakers to re-create it for him upon his return to Italy. Over time, the bakers made adaptions to the recipe that eventually became pizza.
Marco Polo visited China in the 13th century. The visit took place over 1,000 years after Greek settlers arrived in Italy and about 600 years before RaffaeleEsposito wowed Queen Margheritawith his recipe. While his culinary souvenir may have helped pave the way for pizza, it wasn't likely the sole influence for the pizza enjoyed today.
Modern American pizza fans appreciate the contributions from all the cultures that helped to create a versatile and flavorful meal that is one of the most popular food choices in the country. At Camden House of Pizza, we offer pizzas everyone can enjoy. Call in an order or stop by today to try some of our selections for yourself.
