Tobacco timeline

See also the more general account of tobacco

Introduction – Tobacco timeline

Tobacco is a plant native to the Americas that has a long and complex history dating back to ancient times. The use of tobacco can be traced back to at least 6000 BC when indigenous peoples in the Americas began cultivating and using the plant for various ceremonial and medicinal purposes. The practice of smoking tobacco in pipes and cigars quickly spread throughout the Americas and was eventually adopted by European explorers and colonists in the 16th century.

The commercial cultivation and trade of tobacco began in earnest in the 17th century when European settlers in the Americas recognized the economic potential of the plant. Tobacco quickly became one of the most valuable crops in the colonies, with Virginia and Maryland emerging as major tobacco-producing regions. The growth of the tobacco industry fueled the expansion of the transatlantic slave trade as planters sought cheap labor to work on their tobacco plantations.

By the 18th century, tobacco had become a common commodity in Europe and was in high demand among consumers. The introduction of cigarettes in the late 19th century further increased the popularity of tobacco products, leading to the establishment of large-scale tobacco companies such as R.J. Reynolds and Philip Morris. These companies became major players in the tobacco industry and played a key role in shaping the modern tobacco market.

Throughout the 20th century, tobacco consumption continued to rise, with smoking becoming a widespread social and cultural practice. However, the health risks associated with tobacco use became increasingly apparent, leading to the rise of anti-smoking campaigns and regulations aimed at curbing tobacco use. Despite these efforts, the tobacco industry remained a powerful economic force, generating billions of dollars in revenue each year.

In recent decades, the tobacco industry has faced growing scrutiny and legal challenges as the health risks of smoking have become undeniable. Numerous lawsuits have been filed against tobacco companies for their role in contributing to the epidemic of smoking-related diseases, including lung cancer and heart disease. In response, many countries have implemented strict regulations on tobacco advertising and packaging, as well as increasing taxes on tobacco products to discourage consumption.

Despite these challenges, the tobacco industry continues to thrive, with global tobacco sales reaching over $800 billion in 2019. The industry has also diversified its product offerings, introducing new tobacco products such as e-cigarettes and heated tobacco devices in an effort to attract younger consumers.

In conclusion, the history of tobacco is a tale of economic prosperity, cultural significance, and public health concerns. While tobacco has played a significant role in shaping world history and commerce, its impact on public health cannot be ignored. As we continue to grapple with the consequences of tobacco use, it is clear that the tobacco industry must evolve and adapt to meet the changing needs and expectations of society. Only time will tell how the tobacco industry will continue to evolve in the face of mounting public health challenges (AI-GPT-4o)

Tobacco Timeline

This timeline is adapted from one presented here.

6000 BCE – Native Americans first start cultivating the tobacco plant
c. 1 BCE – Indigenous American tribes start smoking tobacco in religious ceremonies and for medicinal purposes
1492 – Christopher Columbus first encounters dried tobacco leaves. They were given to him as a gift by the American Indians
1492 – Tobacco plant and smoking introduced to Europeans
1531 – Europeans start cultivation of the tobacco plant in Central America
1558 – First attempt at tobacco cultivation in Europe fail
1571 – European doctors start publishing works on healthy properties of the tobacco plant, claiming it can cure a myriad of diseases, from toothache to lockjaw and cancer
1600 – Tobacco used as cash-crop – a monetary standard that lasts twice as long as the gold standard
1602 – King James I condemns tobacco in his treatise A Counterblast to Tobacco
1614 – Tobacco shops open across Britain, selling the Virginia blend tobacco
1624 – Popes ban use of tobacco in holy places, considering sneezing (snuff) too close to sexual pleasures
1633 – Turkey introduces a death penalty for smoking but it doesn’t stay in effect for long and is lifted in 1647
1650 – Tobacco arrives in Africa – European settlers grow it and use it as a currency
1700 – African slaves are first forced to work on tobacco plantations, years before they become a workforce in the cotton fields
1730 – First American tobacco companies open their doors in Virginia
1753 – Tobacco genus named by a Swedish botanist Carolus Linnaeus – nicotiana rustica and nicotiana tabacum named for the first time
1791 – British doctors find that snuff leads to increased risk of nose cancer
1794 – First American tobacco tax
1826 – Nicotine isolated for the first time
1847 – Philip Morris opens their first shop in Great Britain, selling hand-rolled Turkish cigarettes
1961 – First American cigarette factory produces 20 million cigarettes
1880 – Bonsack develops the first cigarette-rolling machine
1890 – American Tobacco Company opens its doors
1990 – 4 billion cigarettes are sold this year and manufacture is on the rise
1902 – Philip Morris starts selling cigarettes in the US – one of the brands offered is Marlboro
1912 – First reported connection between smoking and lung cancer
1918 – An entire generation of young men returns from war addicted to cigarettes
1924 – Over 70 billion of cigarettes are sold in the US
1925 – Philip Morris starts marketing to women, tripling the number of female smokers in just 10 years
1947 – Lorillard chemist admits that there is enough evidence that smoking can cause cancer
1950 – 50% of a cigarette now consists of the cigarette filter tip
1967 – Surgeon General definitively links smoking to lung cancer and presents evidence that it is causing heart problems
1970 – Tobacco manufacturers legally obliged to print a warning on the labels that smoking is a health hazard
1970 – 1990 – Tobacco companies faced with a series of lawsuits. Courts limit their advertising and marketing
1992 – Nicotine patch is introduced – in the following years more cessation products will start being developed
1996 – Researchers find conclusive evidence that tobacco damages a cancer-suppressor gene
1997 – Liggett Tobacco Company issues a statement acknowledging that tobacco causes cancer and carries a considerable health risk
1997 – Tobacco companies slammed with major lawsuits – ordered to spend billions of dollar on anti-smoking campaigns over the next 25 years predominantly focused on educating the young on dangers of smoking
1997 – For the first time in history a tobacco company CEO admits on trial that cigarettes and related tobacco products cause cancer. His name was Bennett Lebow
1990 – 2000– Bans on public smoking come into effect in most states in America, as well as in other countries in the world