Corn

[Antiochus III]

I was reading about the north African provinces and the products that they exported. I saw that "corn" was a major product there. I am pretty sure that the crop formally known as Zea mays was cultivated in Mesoamerica and wasn't discovered by Europeans until well after the fall of Rome. I must be missing something basic here, so I would appreciate it if someone could explain this to me.

 

Antiochus III

Edited June 30, 2008 by Antiochus III

[Ingsoc]

Just remember "Corn" is a word of the translator, the ancient text originally refer to grains.

[sonic]

I was reading about the north African provinces and the products that they exported. I saw that "corn" was a major product there. I am pretty sure that the crop formally known as Zea mays was cultivated in Mesoamerica and wasn't discovered by Europeans until well after the fall of Rome. I must be missing something basic here, so I would appreciate it if someone could explain this to me.

 

Antiochus III

 

Although the word 'corn' is usually connected with the cereal known as Zea mays in North America, in Europe the word 'corn' is an alternative word that can be used for a variety of major cereal crops. For example, in England it can be used for barley and in Scotland for oats. For Europeans who are not specialists in grain, the word can be applied when wheat is meant.

[ASCLEPIADES]

Salve, Amici. This has caused some confusion before.

 

Here comes the American Heritage Dictionary:

CORN: n(oun)

 

1. a. Any of numerous cultivated forms of a widely grown, usually tall annual cereal grass (Zea mays) bearing grains or kernels on large ears.

 

3. Chiefly British Any of various cereal plants or grains, especially the principal crop cultivated in a particular region, such as wheat in England or oats in Scotland.

[Antiochus III]

Oh. Thanks.

 

Antiochus III (The GREAT!)