Brooklyn Botanic Garden in Kings County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Sub-Saharan Africa
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Fertile Crescent
World Vegetables
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 13, 2022
1. Sub-Saharan Africa / Fertile Crescent Marker
Sub-Saharan Africa
Crops like pearl millet and sorghum were first cultivated at least 5,000 years ago in savannas south of the Sahara Desert. These plants have extensive root systems well suited to the long dry season of this region.
Food for thought
During the slave trade era, many sub-Saharan crops, including black-eyed peas, okra, and watermelon were brought to the Americas along with the know-how to cultivate them. Many of these food plants became part of New World cuisine, such as the iconic American stew gumbo, which gets its name from the various African Bantu words for its main ingredient, okra: guingumbo, gombu, kimgombo, grugombo, or ngombo.
Fertile Crescent
Grains native to the Fertile Crescent such as wheat, barley, and rye were first cultivated over 10,000 years ago along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, where rich soil and plentiful water created optimal growing conditions.
Erected by Brooklyn Botanic Garden.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Agriculture • Anthropology & Archaeology • Colonial Era • Settlements & Settlers.
Location. 40° 39.908′ N,
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in New York City and on Long Island. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Mid-Atlantic, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: East Asia and South Asia / Pacific and Southeast Asia (here, next to this marker); Mediterranean (here, next to this marker); Cucumber (a few steps from this marker); Working Plants (a few steps from this marker); Marigold (Tagetes erecta) (a few steps from this marker); The Tradition of Espalier
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 13, 2022
2. Sub-Saharan Africa / Fertile Crescent Marker
Additional keywords. human trafficking
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 16, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 300 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 16, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
