The potato is a starchy, tuberous crop from the perennial Solanaceae family. The word potato may refer to the plant itself as well as to the edible tuber.

ThePotato comes from southern Peru.

• In the Altiplano (in the Andes), potatoes would provide the principal energy source for the Inca Empire and its predecessors.

• In Peru above 10,000 feet altitude, tubers exposed to the cold night air turned into chuño; this way, chuño was stored for years with no loss of nutritional value.

• We introduced the potato to Europe in the second half of the 16th century, when we conquered the Inca Empire.

• The potato became an important field crop, and played a major role in the European 19th century diet.

THE TOMATO

The tomato is a tasty, typically red fruit. Originating in South America, the tomato was spread around the world following the Spanish colonization of the Americas, and its many varieties are now widely grown.

It’s considered a vegetable for culinary purposes which has caused some confusion. The fruit is rich in lycopene, which may have beneficial health effects.

The tomato belongs to the nightshade family. The plants typically grow to 1–3 metres in height and have a weak stem. It is a perennial in its native habitat

THE TOMATO

The tomato is native to south America where is located in the highlands of Peru.

One species, was transported to Mexico where it was grown and consumed by Mesoamerican civilizations. The first domesticated tomato may have been a little yellow fruit, similar in size to a cherry tomato, grown by the Aztecs of Central America. The word tomato means "the swelling fruit".

Many historians believe that the Spanish explorer Hernán Cortés may have been the first to transfer the small yellow tomato to Europe after he conquered the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan Tenochtitlan, now Mexico city, in 1521.

Others believe Christopher Columbus, who worked for the Spanish monarchy, was the first European to take back the tomato, as early as 1493.

The Aztecs believed that those who witnessed the ingestion of tomato seeds were blessed with powers of divination.

Tenochtitlan

The History of Cocoa

The Aztecs ate it.

It amazed Spanish people.

It became a sweet for Europeans and nowadays it cures depression and heart attacks.

Cocoa is strong of pleasure and a way of life for million of people.

Origins

•The Olmecs (1500-400 BC) were the firts in tasting it.

•They crushed the cocoa beans, mixed them with water, spices, chillies and herbs .

•Mayans (600 BC) and Aztecs (400 AD) developed successful methods for cultivating it. 

•Aztecs called it “Chocolatl” = warm liquid.

•It has enjoyed by royalty and seared at secret ceremonies.

•Cocoa was so highly valued that they used as a monetary unit.

Discovery and Commercialization of Cocoa (16th

century)

• Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492.

• In 1502, Columbus got his first glimpse of cacoa beans but didn’t appreciate its awesome potential.

• Hernan Cortes, on an expedition to colonise Mexico in 1517, drank cocoa and brought it to the Crown of Castile in 1528.

The expansion of cocoa in Europe (17th - 19th centuries)

• During the 17th century, cocoa began arriving in Europe .

• In 1650 chocolate first appeared in England 

• In 1659 the first chocolate-confection in Paris.

• In this way, chocolate developed around the world, and slowly the presentation of chocolate changed.

Nowadays chocolate is not just a sweet, it has become a way of art

The horse

What animals did we introduce to America?

DogsPorks

Donkeys

Rabbits

HorsesSheeps

- Herbivore mammal with long curve neck

-The female is called mare and their babies are called colts

-They can measure from 142 to 183 cm and their weight goes from 500 to 1000 kg

The animals Spanish and European people introduced in these new lands were considered as exotic species and at the beginning native people were scared of some of them

During the conquest, European horses were considered the best of the world, so they were really wanted between most of

the people

In the past, horses were mainly used in war times, nowadays they are used a lot in exhibitions