Everything Everywhere Daily: History, Science, Geography, & More · Gary Arndt

The History of Tobacco

March 3, 2026·17 min·1 clip

Within 125 years of Columbus's voyage, tobacco was being grown and smoked in virtually every inhabited region on Earth.

This episode traces the history of tobacco from its sacred use by indigenous Americans to its global spread after Columbus, highlighting how it fueled economies and slavery while causing a public health crisis. It covers key moments like the invention of cigarettes and the 1964 Surgeon General's report, ending with the staggering death toll of tobacco use.

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