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[[File:SC148244.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Figure 1. Ceramics, such as this from Cyprus, have been found to contain opium.]]__NOTOC__We think of recreational drugs as being a phenomenon that has emerged releatively relatively recently. However, the use of drugs, other than medicinal purposes, has existed from antiquity. The purpose was sometimes not only for enjoyment but also integrated with religious practice. The mix recreational use of various pleasures with drug use drugs has also been a fairly consistent pattern across timephenomenon throughout recorded history and most likely much longer.

==Early Use of Recreational DrugsWhich drugs did humans use in the Ancient Middle East?==The use of drugs such as opium likely originated from prehistoric periods, although direct evidence is limited. Remains from Central Asia and across Eurasia's parts suggest plant residues that resemble cannabis have been found on braziers. In fact, the origin of opium is that it comes from Central Asia, and it liked reached the Near East and Europe in the Neolithic due to migrations of populations such as the Yamnaya. Some early evidence for recreational drug use comes from ancient Mesopotamia (modern Syria and Iraq) and Egypt. At Ebla, in modern western Syria, a kitchen was found in a palace from the mid 3rd millennium BCE. When the ceramics found in the kitchen were analyzed, they were found to contain traces of opium.

The use of drugs such as Sumerians may have also cultivated opium likely originates from prehistoric periods, although direct evidence is still entirely clear. Remains from Central Asia and across parts of Eurasia suggest plant residues that resemble cannabis have been found on brazierstraded it similarly to other commodities. In factCyprus, the origin of marijuana comes vessels from Central Asia and it liked reached the Near East and Europe in the Neolithic due to migrations of populations such as the Yamnaya. Some early evidence for recreational drug use come from ancient Mesopotamia (modern Syria and Iraq) and Egypt. At EblaBronze age, in modern western Syriaabout 3400 years ago, a kitchen was found in a palace from the mid 3rd millennium BCE, where the ceramics were analyzed and also found to contain traces of opium(Figure 1). The Sumerians may have Marijuana was also likely another drug cultivated opium and traded it similarly like other commodities. Opium is native to Central Asia, which suggests perhaps as early as the plants may have been traded for after its early use there and later attempts at local cultivation was practiced after its tradeNeolithic period over 5000 years ago. It is possible there were many uses for both opium and marijuana in its early besides only as drugs, whether medicinal or for recreational use. For instance, both marijuana and opium plants can be made into other materials such as rope. Both plants also have medicinal qualities. Nevertheless, some have suggested the evidence for seemingly large-scale production at Ebla may suggest more recreational usage. Other scenes from the Near East may also show large-scale drug use. Banquetting scenes were a common theme in art and often this involved large-scale consumption of wine. However, these may have also involved drug use including marijuana and opium. In China and India, evidence from the Bronze Age also suggests early use of opium and possibly marijuana.

In EgyptNevertheless, one popular drug was some have suggested the blue water lotusevidence for seemingly large-scale production, where it has hallucinogenic qualities and was known such as at Ebla, may indicate more recreational usage. It isn't easy to have been consumed with wine. In fact, paintings of drunken festivals with descriptions and depictions of likely orgies suggest that it differentiate when using drugs was ingested for recreational usepurposes rather than religious purposes. HoweverVery possibly, recreational use recreation and religion could have blended in early belief systems. Artistic scenes from the Near East may have also been part of worship ritual, as descriptions of the show large-scale drug use of the blue lotus have been found at Karnak. Banquetting scenes were often depicted on cylinder seal art, and these scenes often described the site consumption of Egypt's most holy temple. The famous burial of Tutankhamun contained the blue lotus, wine or alcohol which could suggest its ingestion during the life of the pharaoh. In later periods, both Greek and Roman cultures ingested be mixed with various drugs such as opium, including using it in wine. The Greek stories and mythology often mentioned drugging of the gods.

Recreational drugs In China and India, evidence from the Bronze Age also included other formssuggests early use of opium; marijuana, particularly in India where the drug naturally occurs, including types of mushroomswas also likely used in the Bronze Age about 5000 years ago. In Saharan these cases, both drugs could have been smoked and sub-Sahara Africa, mushrooms containing psilocybin were used as a hallucinogenicin drinks. They were used by nomadic populations and they could be found <ref>For more on the earliest history of drugs in the springtimeOld World, see: Escohotado, Antonio. 1999. <i>A Brief History of Drugs: From the Stone Age to the Stoned Age</i>. Rochester, Vt: Park Street Press. </ref> ==What was the Bluewater Lotus?==[[File:blue-lotus-1. Rock art jpg|thumb|left|250px|Painting from 9000-7000 years ago may the time of Ramses III showing the use of the blue lotus. ]]In Egypt, one popular drug was the blue water lotus. Bluewater lotus has hallucinogenic qualities and was often with wine (Figure 2). Paintings of drunken festivals with descriptions and depictions of likely orgies suggest that mushrooms were it was ingested in North Africa as for recreational use and not just for religious purposes. However, recreational use may have also been part of worship rituals and visions seen and painted. Representations in Egypt, as descriptions of mushrooms are also shown, which would suggest their the use as part of the visions or drawings shownblue lotus have been found at Karnak, the site of Egypt's most holy temple.

==Recreational Drugs The famous burial of Tutankhamun contained the blue lotus, which could suggest its ingestion during the pharaoh's life and was intended to comfort him in the New World==afterlife. In later periods, both Greek and Roman cultures ingested opium, including using it in wine. The Greek stories and mythology often mentioned drugging of the gods, suggest opium and other drugs such as mushrooms may have been common.<ref>For more on the blue lotus, see: Vasudevan Nair, R. 2004. <i>Controversial Drug Plants</i>. Biodiversity Library. Hyderabad: University Press (India) : Distributed by Orient Longman, pg. 69. </ref>

While opium was likely the most common drug ==Where mushrooms used as drugs in the Old WorldAncient world?==Recreational drugs also included other forms, recreational drugs in including types of mushrooms. In the New World included cocoa leaves that Sahara and sub-Sahara Africa, mushrooms containing psilocybin were chewed in South America used as early as about 8000 a hallucinogenic by nomadic groups. Rock art from 9000-7000 years ago. After 3000 BC, cocoa before the Sahara became a vast desert and was commonly chewed still relatively fertile, may suggest that mushrooms were ingested in North Africa as part of rituals and visions seen and consumed by cultures east painted. Representations of the Andes. Latermushrooms are also shown, it was introduced to the Incas and was added which would suggest their use as part of tea the visions or commonly cheweddrawings shown in rock art. The Incas considered it a divine plant <ref>For more on rock art and likely saw the psychedelic effects as a divine influence or ways to communicate with the gods. The Incas created a monopoly other forms of production and was more limited recreational drug use in its useAfrica, probably the upper classes and nobles mostly used itsee: http://www.artepreistorica. After com/2009/12/the collapse -oldest-representations-of -hallucinogenic-mushrooms-in-the Incas, the use of cocoa likely spread across South America.-world-sahara-desert-9000-%E2%80%93-7000-b-p/</ref>

==Which drugs were used recreationally Drugs in the Americas?==While cocoa opium was likely the likely dominate most common drug in the Old World, recreational drugs in the New World included cocoa leaves that were chewed in South Americaas early as about 8000 years ago. After 3000 BC, in North America peyote cocoa was commonly chewed and consumed by cultures east of the likely dominant drugAndes. The earliest evidence of its use dates Later, it was introduced to about 3700 BC in the Rio Grande region Incas and was added as part of Texastea or commonly chewed. Evidence suggests The Incas considered it was used by Native Americans as potentially a recreational drug but also divine plant and likely saw the psychedelic effects as a way divine influence or ways to communicate with spiritsthe gods. Similarly, though, the Incas likely used it for recreational purposes. The use Incas created a monopoly of peyote spread production, and cocoa was more limited in its use across much of , where perhaps mostly the Western United States upper classes and Mexiconobles used it. Interestingly, research on After the collapse of the HuicholIncas, who may have been using the drug for over 1500 yearsuse of cocoa likely spread across South America, show no evidence and there was less control of adverse effects the market.<ref>For more on their chromosome that would suggest long-term genetic damage from continuous drug cocoa and its usein history, see: Afoakwa, Emmanuel Ohene. 2014. <i>Cocoa Production and Processing Technology</i>. Boca Raton London New York: CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, pg. 9.</ref>

Another similar While cocoa was the likely dominant drug to peyote is salviain South America, which has been recently rediscovered in North America, peyote was one of the more likely dominant drugs. It is a native mint-like plant that grows in northern Mexico. Similar The earliest evidence of its use dates to peyote, it was popular about 3700 BC in ingesting for shaman rituals among native groupsthe Rio Grande region of Texas. It was Evidence suggests Native Americans used it as potentially a recreational drug and a way to communicate with the spirits but also likely taken for pleasure. The hallucinogenic is generally not toxic, even at high levels, while it is also very potent use of peyote spread in use across much of the Western United States and among the most potent naturally occurring hallucinogenic plantsMexico. It is consumed by chewing or smoking usually. Other Native American stimulants have included tobaccoInterestingly, which was one of research on the first drugs to be traded from Huichol, who may have been using the New World to the Old World. It was one drug for over 1500 years, show no evidence of the first gifts adverse effects on their chromosome that Columbus received when arriving in the New Worldwould suggest long-term genetic damage from continuous drug use. It was often smoked to seal important events among native groups<ref>For more on peyote, see: Stewart, such as a peace treaty between warring tribesOmer Call. 1993. <i>Peyote Religion: A History</i>. Norman [Okla.: University of Oklahoma Press.</ref>

==How Recent Trends Differed Another similar drug to peyote is salvia, which has been recently rediscovered in North America. It is a native mint-like plant that grows in northern Mexico. Similar to peyote, it was popular in ingesting for shaman rituals among native groups. It was used to communicate with the spirits but also likely taken for pleasure. The hallucinogenic is generally not toxic, even at high levels, while it is also very potent and among the most potent naturally occurring hallucinogenic plants. It is consumed by chewing or smoking usually. Other Native American stimulants have included tobacco, one of the first drugs to be traded from the Past==New World to the Old World. It was one of the first gifts that Columbus received when arriving in the New World. It was often smoked to seal important events among native groups, such as a peace treaty between warring tribes.<ref>For more on salvia, see: Carod-Artal, F.J. 2015. “Hallucinogenic Drugs in Pre-Columbian Mesoamerican Cultures.” <i>Neurología</i> (English Edition) 30 (1): 42–49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nrleng.2011.07.010. </ref>

While opium and marijuana are native to ==How did recreational drug use change starting in the Old World, tobacco 16th Century? ==Tobacco was the major drug of choice that became traded between the New and Old World. It was instantly popular already by the 16th century in Europe, when clay pipes began to be created so it can to be smoked all across Europe. On Opium and marijuana were also known but not very common until renewed contact with China and India in the other hand, opium 17th to 19th centuries. Opium and marijuana only became illegal drugs across parts of the Old World in the 19th century. Napolean, during During his invasion of Egypt, Napolean became concerned his troops were drinking cannabis mixed in drinks as well as and smoking it. Morphine, which is derived from the same opium poppies, was also developed in the 19th century as a medical product in Germany. Heroin was similarly derived in Europe in the 19th century by an English chemist and then developed into a medicinal drug by the drug company Bayer Pharmaceutical Company in the 1890s. In the 1860s, cocaine was derived from cocoa by a German chemist, where it similarly began to be used in medicine and recreationally. Additionally, it was used in the soft drink Coca Cola, which gave it its name.

The Heroin was similarly derived in Europe in the 19th century by an English chemist and then developed into a medicinal drug by the drug company Bayer Pharmaceutical Company in the 1890s. In the 1860s, cocaine was derived from cocoa by a German chemist, where it similarly began to be used in medicine and recreationally. Additionally, it was used in the soft drink Coca-Cola, which gave it its name.<ref>For more on how naturally occurring drugs were developed into derivative drugs, see: Lyman, Michael D. 2017. <i>Drugs in Society: Causes, Concepts, and Control</i>. Eighth edition. New York: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group. </ref>  ==Why did the Opium trade from China increase dramatically in the 19th Century?==The opium trade continued to increase throughout much of the 19th century, particularly from ChinaIndia. Opium was being exported to China from India, where it was also commercially grownby the British East India Company. This Chinese had banned opium by this point , but the British East India Company began to trade illegally smuggling it to into China illegally through the Canton's port of Canton. This led to the Chinese government to confiscate the opium from Canton , but this led to Britain's conflict with Britian, launching which launched the so-called First Opium War that led to the take over of Hong Kong and other Chinese ports.  Throughout the 19th century, opium was widely traded despite its ban in a few countries. In the West, it was legal and often used to derive various drugs such as morphine and heroin. It was only in 1912 that opium became banned under the International Opium Convention. Similarly, in the 1920s was an era where other drugs increasingly became banned, such as marijuana, as by then crime and heavy drug use became larger problems in Western countries.<ref>For more on a recent history of opium and its banning, see Inglis, Lucy. 2018. <i>Milk of Paradise: A History of Opium</i>. London: Macmillan.</ref>

====References====<references/>[[Category:Ancient History]][[Category:Wikis]] [[Category:History of Drugs and Alcohol]]