# Early cultivation By [juliss168](https://paragraph.com/@juliss168) · 2021-10-29 --- An article on Banana tree cultivation is brought down in [Ibn al-'Awwam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibn_al-%27Awwam)'s 12th-century agricultural work, _Book on Agriculture_.[\[49\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana#cite_note-49) The earliest domestication of [bananas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bananas) ([_Musa_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musa_\(genus\)) spp.) were initially from naturally occurring [parthenocarpic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthenocarpic) (seedless) individuals of [_Musa acuminata banksii_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musa_acuminata_banksii) in [New Guinea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Guinea). These were cultivated by [Papuans](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papuans) before the arrival of [Austronesian-speakers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austronesian_peoples). Numerous [phytoliths](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phytolith) of bananas have been recovered from the [Kuk Swamp](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuk_Swamp) archaeological site and dated to around 10,000 to 6,500 [BP](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Before_Present). From New Guinea, cultivated bananas spread westward into [Island Southeast Asia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Island_Southeast_Asia) through proximity (not migrations). They [hybridized](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid_\(biology\)) with other (possibly independently domesticated) [subspecies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subspecies) of [_Musa acuminata_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musa_acuminata) as well as [_Musa balbisiana_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musa_balbisiana) in the Philippines, northern New Guinea, and possibly [Halmahera](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halmahera). These hybridization events produced the [triploid](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triploid) [cultivars of bananas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_banana_cultivars) commonly grown today. From Island Southeast Asia, they became part of the staple domesticated crops of [Austronesian peoples](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austronesian_peoples) and were spread during their voyages and [ancient maritime trading routes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austronesian_maritime_trade_network) into Oceania, [East Africa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Africa), [South Asia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Asia), and [Indochina](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indochina).[\[50\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana#cite_note-Denham2011-50)[\[51\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana#cite_note-Perrier2009-51)[\[52\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana#cite_note-Fuller2015-52) Fruits of [wild-type](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_type) bananas have numerous large, hard seeds. Chronological dispersal of [Austronesian peoples](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austronesian_peoples) across the [Indo-Pacific](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-Pacific)[\[53\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana#cite_note-Chambers2013-53) These ancient introductions resulted in the banana subgroup now known as the ["true" plantains](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/True_plantains), which include the [East African Highland bananas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_African_Highland_bananas) and the [Pacific plantains](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_plantains) (the [Iholena](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iholena_bananas) and [Maoli-Popo'ulu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maoli-Popo%27ulu_bananas) subgroups). East African Highland bananas originated from banana populations introduced to Madagascar probably from the region between [Java](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Java), [Borneo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borneo), and [New Guinea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Guinea); while Pacific plantains were introduced to the Pacific Islands from either eastern New Guinea or the [Bismarck Archipelago](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bismarck_Archipelago).[\[50\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana#cite_note-Denham2011-50)[\[51\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana#cite_note-Perrier2009-51) [Phytolith](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phytolith) discoveries in Cameroon dating to the first millennium BCE[\[54\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana#cite_note-Mbid00-54) triggered an as yet unresolved debate about the date of first cultivation in Africa. There is linguistic evidence that bananas were known in Madagascar around that time.[\[55\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana#cite_note-Zell05-55)\[[_dubious_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Accuracy_dispute#Disputed_statement) _–_ [_discuss_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Banana#Dubious)\] The earliest prior evidence indicates that cultivation dates to no earlier than late 6th century CE.[\[56\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana#cite_note-Lejj05-56) It is likely, however, that bananas were brought at least to Madagascar if not to the East African coast during the phase of [Malagasy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malagasy_people) colonization of the island from South East Asia c. 400 CE.[\[57\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana#cite_note-Rand09-57) [Glucanase](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glucanase) and two other proteins specific to bananas were found in [dental calculus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dental_calculus) from early [Iron Age](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Age) (12th century BC) [Philistines](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philistines) in [Tel Erani](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tel_Erani) in Palestine.[\[58\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana#cite_note-58) Another wave of introductions later spread bananas to other parts of [tropical Asia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_Asia), particularly [Indochina](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indochina) and the [Indian subcontinent](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_subcontinent).[\[50\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana#cite_note-Denham2011-50)[\[51\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana#cite_note-Perrier2009-51) However, there is evidence that bananas were known to the [Indus Valley Civilisation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indus_Valley_Civilisation) from phytoliths recovered from the [Kot Diji](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kot_Diji) archaeological site in Pakistan (although they are absent in other contemporary sites in [South Asia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Asia)). This may be a possible indication of very early dispersal of bananas by Austronesian traders by sea from as early as 2000 BCE. But this is still putative, as they may have come from local wild _Musa_ species used for fiber or as ornamentals, not food.[\[52\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana#cite_note-Fuller2015-52) Southeast Asia remains the region of [primary diversity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Center_of_diversity) of the banana. Areas of secondary diversity are found in Africa, indicating a long history of banana cultivation in these regions.[\[59\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana#cite_note-FOOTNOTEPloetzKeplerDaniellsNelson20077-59) Actual and probable diffusion of bananas during the [Caliphates](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_Agricultural_Revolution) (700–1500 CE)[\[60\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana#cite_note-Wats83-60) The banana may also have been present in isolated locations elsewhere in the Middle East on the eve of [Islam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam). The [spread of Islam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spread_of_Islam) was followed by far-reaching diffusion. There are numerous references to it in Islamic texts (such as poems and [hadiths](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hadith)) beginning in the 9th century. By the 10th century the banana appears in texts from [Palestine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestine_\(region\)) and Egypt. From there it diffused into North Africa and [Muslim Iberia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Andalus). During the medieval ages, bananas from [Granada](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granada) were considered among the best in the Arab world.[\[60\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana#cite_note-Wats83-60) In 650, Islamic conquerors brought the banana to Palestine. Today, banana consumption increases significantly in Islamic countries during [Ramadan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramadan), the month of daylight fasting.[\[61\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana#cite_note-thefinancialexpress-bd-61) Bananas were certainly grown in the Christian [Kingdom of Cyprus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Cyprus) by the late medieval period. Writing in 1458, the Italian traveller and writer [Gabriele Capodilista](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabriele_Capodilista) wrote favourably of the extensive farm produce of the estates at Episkopi, near modern-day [Limassol](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limassol), including the region's banana plantations.[\[62\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana#cite_note-Jenn92-62) Illustration of fruit and banana plant from [_Acta Eruditorum_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acta_Eruditorum), 1734 Bananas (as well as [coconuts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coconut)) were encountered by European explorers during the [Magellan expedition](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magellan_expedition) in 1521, in both [Guam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guam) and the [Philippines](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippines). Lacking a name for the fruit, the ship's historian [Antonio Pigafetta](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_Pigafetta) described them as "figs more than one [palm](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_\(unit\)) long."[\[63\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana#cite_note-63)[\[64\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana#cite_note-Nowell-64): 130, 132  Bananas were introduced to [South America](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_America) by Portuguese sailors who brought the fruits from [West Africa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Africa) in the 16th century.[\[65\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana#cite_note-Botgard-65) Southeast Asian banana cultivars, as well as [abaca](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abaca) grown for fibers, were also introduced to [New Spain](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Spain) ([North](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_America) and [Central America](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_America)) by the Spanish from the Philippines, via the [Manila galleons](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manila_galleons).[\[66\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana#cite_note-66) Many [wild banana species](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musa_\(genus\)#Species) as well as cultivars exist in extraordinary diversity in India, China, and [Southeast Asia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southeast_Asia). > There are fuzzy [bananas whose skins are bubblegum pink](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musa_velutina); green-and-white striped bananas with pulp the color of orange sherbet; bananas that, when cooked, taste like strawberries. The Double Mahoi plant can produce two bunches at once. The Chinese name of the aromatic Go San Heong banana means 'You can smell it from the next mountain.' The fingers on one banana plant grow fused; another produces bunches of a thousand fingers, each only an inch long. --- *Originally published on [juliss168](https://paragraph.com/@juliss168/early-cultivation)*