Rice plants have been traced
back to 5000 BC, but the practice of rice growing is believed to have
originated in areas of China, and southern and eastern Asia, in about
2000 BC.
History of Rice Cultivation
There are many unproven mythological tales related to origin of rice,
though historians hold little or no stock in any. Rice cultivation is
considered to have begun simultaneously in many countries over 6500
years ago. Rice has been cultivated in China since ancient times.
Chinese records of rice cultivation go back 4000 years. Most believe the
roots of rice come from 3000 BC India, where natives discovered the
plant growing in the wild and began to experiment with it. Cultivation
and cooking methods are thought to have spread to the west rapidly and
by medieval times, southern Europe saw the introduction of rice as a
hearty grain. In several Asian languages the words for rice and food are
identical.
African rice has been cultivated for 3500 years. In the Middle East and
Mediterranean Europe, it started around 800 BC. Rice spread throughout
Italy and then France, after the middle of the 15th century, later
propagating to all the continents during the great age of European
exploration. In 1694, rice arrived in South Carolina, probably
originating from Madagascar. The Spanish brought rice to South America
at the beginning of the 18th century.
Rice cultivation has been carried into all regions having the necessary
warmth and abundant moisture favorable to its growth, mainly subtropical
rather than hot or cold.
