When I was a Younger Elder, I thought I noticed an anachronism in the Bible. Jesus and his disciples were gleaning corn on a Sunday, and the local proto-MAGA trolls were criticizing Him for working on the Sabbath.
Corn was a new world crop, and wouldn’t appear in Jerusalem for 1,500 years. So what gives? Turns out that much of the European world uses the word “corn” for any grain.
The name maize is preferred in formal, scientific, and international usage as a common name because it refers specifically to this one grain, unlike corn, which has a complex variety of meanings that vary by context and geographic region. Most countries primarily use the term maize, and the name corn is used mainly in the United States and a handful of other English-speaking countries.
The historian of food Betty Fussell writes in an article on the history of the word corn in North America that “[t]o say the word corn is to plunge into the tragi-farcical mistranslations of language and history“.
But without the word “Corn”, we’d have “Maize Mazes”. Oh dear.
Corn / maize is actually a grass.
[Maize] was domesticated by indigenous peoples in southern Mexico about 9,000 years ago from wild teosinte…. Maize requires human intervention for it to propagate. The kernels of its naturally-propagating teosinte ancestor fall off the cob on their own, while those of domesticated maize do not.
Agriculture began around 10,000 to 12,000 years ago, during a period known as the Neolithic Revolution. This era marked a significant transition from a lifestyle of hunting and gathering to one of farming and settled communities. The earliest evidence of agriculture comes from the Fertile Crescent in the Middle East, particularly in areas that are now part of modern-day Iraq, Syria, and Turkey.
In these regions, people began domesticating plants like wheat, barley, and legumes, and later on, they domesticated animals such as sheep, goats, and cattle. This shift to agriculture allowed for the development of more permanent settlements and eventually led to the rise of complex societies and civilizations.
Maize, or corn, has its origins in Mesoamerica, where it was domesticated around 9,000 years ago from a wild grass called teosinte. It became a staple crop for many indigenous cultures in the Americas, especially in regions that are now Mexico and Central America. Over time, maize spread throughout the Americas and became a crucial part of the diet and agricultural practices of various civilizations, including the Maya, Aztec, and Inca.
A deeper dive into the history of corn, including 19th and 20th century varieties, hybrids, and genetically modified varieties.
Here’s an entertaining documentary of the history of corn and how it changed civilization.
Late Stage Capitalism
Commercial teosinte seeds and flour are pretty hard to find. But $9 for 5 seeds?
We beg to differ….
A Little Nutritional Info
Teosinte
Modern corn is not too cool for diabetics. How about teosenti?
The glycemic index (GI) is a measure of how quickly carbohydrates in a food raise blood glucose levels. While there is ample data on the glycemic index of modern corn, specific GI data for teosinte is not widely available due to its status as an ancient, wild relative of modern corn that is not commonly consumed in contemporary diets.
However, I can offer a comparison based on what is known about their composition:
1. Modern Corn: **Glycemic Index:** Modern corn typically has a moderate glycemic index, with sweet corn having a GI of around 55-60. Processed corn products, such as cornflakes, have a much higher GI, often exceeding 80.
**Composition:** Modern corn is higher in starch, which is a more easily digestible carbohydrate. This contributes to its higher GI compared to more fibrous and less processed foods.
2. **Teosinte:** **Glycemic Index:** While specific GI values for teosinte aren’t available, it is likely that teosinte has a lower GI compared to modern corn. This is because teosinte has a higher fiber content, lower starch content, and more complex carbohydrates, which slow down digestion and glucose absorption.
– **Composition:** Teosinte’s grain is smaller, tougher, and has more fiber and less sugar compared to modern corn, suggesting that it would release glucose into the bloodstream more slowly, thus having a lower GI.
In summary, teosinte would likely have a lower glycemic index than modern corn due to its higher fiber content and lower levels of easily digestible starches. Modern corn, especially in its processed forms, tends to have a higher glycemic index due to its increased starch content and reduced fiber.
Elder G
The Omnivore’s Dilemma
If you’d like to read a well researched, entertaining, and convincing book about corn, check out Michael Pollan’s book The Omnivore’s Dilemma.
The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals is a nonfiction book written by American author Michael Pollan published in 2006. As omnivores, humans have a variety of food choices. In the book, Pollan investigates the environmental and animal welfare effects of various food choices. He suggests that, prior to modern food preservation and transportation technologies, the dilemmas caused by these options were resolved primarily by cultural influences.
The Aztec goddess of corn was Chicomecóatl, whose name means “Seven Serpent” in the Nahuatl language. She was one of the most important deities in Aztec mythology, associated with agriculture, fertility, and sustenance. Chicomecóatl was often depicted as a young woman carrying ears of corn, symbolizing the vital role maize played in Aztec society. She was also associated with life, health, and the earth’s bounty, making her a central figure in the rituals and offerings dedicated to ensuring good harvests.
