Tobacco in History and Culture: An Encyclopedia

The two volumes of Tobacco in History and Culture tell how a cured leaf which was burned and smoked among Native Americans became one of the most important commodities in the history of world trade and the source of one of the biggest public health concerns in modern history. Originally used by Native Americans for medicinal, religious, and social purposes, tobacco became the biggest export from the American colonies. By the mid-1990s more than 14 billion pounds of tobacco leaf were grown worldwide each year. International treaties govern its advertising and distribution. It has affected agriculture, religion, social customs, business and trade, government policy, and medicine in many countries. This unique and innovative reference work contains entries on all aspects of tobacco and from a global perspective.