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History of Noodles Timeline
(c. 2000 BCE - Present)The history of noodles spans thousands of years, beginning with ancient archaeological discoveries in China and evolving into one of the world's most beloved staple foods. This timeline traces the development of noodles across cultures, from hand-pulled Chinese la mian and Italian pasta traditions to the revolutionary invention of instant ramen in 1958. More Less
Ancient Origins
Pasta-like implements in fourth century BC Etruscan tomb
399 BC
Some Italian writers have argued that pasta in Italy dates back to the Etruscan civilization of the fourth century BC, citing implements found in a tomb dated to that period that show some resemblance to pasta-making equipment.
Image source: Etruscan civilization
Horace writes of fried dough sheets called lagana
100 BC
In the 1st century BCE, the Roman poet Horace wrote of fried sheets of dough called lagana, an early literary reference to a pasta-like food enjoyed in ancient Rome.
Image source: Laganas
Galen describes itrion, a flour and water mixture
Jan 1, 150
The 2nd-century Greek physician Galen described a homogenous mixture of flour and water called itrion, providing one of the earliest written accounts of a noodle-like foodstuff.
Image source: Galen
Jerusalem Talmud describes itrium among Jews
Jan 1, 200 - Dec 31, 500
The Jerusalem Talmud, compiled between the 3rd and 5th centuries, describes itrium among Jewish communities, documenting an early form of boiled dough strips.
Image source: Jerusalem Talmud
Spread Along Trade Routes
Noodles reach Persia from China via Silk Road
Jan 1, 300
Historian Gil Marks wrote that noodles spread from China along the Silk Road through Central Asia, reaching Persia by around the fourth century, carrying the food westward.
Image source: Silk Road
Arabs develop dry pasta for long journeys
Jan 1, 400
In the fifth century, Arabs adapted noodles for long journeys across arid lands, producing what is considered the first written record of dry pasta.
Image source: Pasta
Isho bar Ali defines itriyya as dried semolina strings
Jan 1, 850
The 9th-century physician and lexicographer Isho bar Ali defined itriyya, an Arabic borrowing from Greek, as string-like shapes made of semolina and dried before cooking.
Image source: Isho bar Ali
Kesme and erişte eaten by Turkic peoples
Jan 1, 1200
By the 13th century, kesme or erişte noodles had become established foods among Turkic peoples of Central Asia, reflecting the deep roots of noodle-making along the Silk Road.
Image source: Kesme
Marco Polo travels to Yuan dynasty China
Jan 1, 1271 - Dec 31, 1295
By the time Marco Polo traveled to China during the Yuan dynasty in the late 13th century, pasta-like foods had already been well established in Italy, contradicting the myth that he introduced pasta to Europe.
Image source: Marco Polo
Asian Traditions
Wheat noodles (Udon) adapted in Japan from Chinese recipe
Jan 1, 800
As early as the 9th century, wheat noodles known as udon were adapted in Japan from a Chinese recipe, becoming a lasting staple of Japanese cuisine.
Image source: Udon
Key Facts
- The oldest known noodles were discovered at the Lajia archaeological site in China, dating back approximately 4,000 years and made from millet rather than wheat.
- Noodles likely spread along the Silk Road, with theories suggesting Marco Polo's 13th-century travels helped introduce noodle-making techniques between China and Italy.
- Italian pasta developed its own distinct tradition, with dried pasta becoming widespread by the medieval period, aided by Sicily's ideal climate for drying.
- Momofuku Ando revolutionized food history in 1958 by inventing instant ramen noodles in Japan, creating one of the most influential food inventions of the 20th century.
- Today, instant noodles are consumed globally at a rate of over 100 billion servings per year, making them one of the world's most popular convenience foods.
Source
This History of Noodles timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.
We work hard to keep these timelines accurate, but mistakes do get through. If you spot one, email us at [email protected] and we'll fix it for future visitors.
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