Is it true that Italy stole the idea of pasta? if so, why?

Question

my dad told me that pasta wasnt originally from Italy, it was an American dish that Italy "stole". strange.......... theyre so good @ making it appear to be Italian. all i ever see is Italian, i cant remember the last time i heard anything American about it.

Answer 1

No one stole anything. Marco Polo and others brought pasta in various from back China to the Europe and the countries "adopted" it and changed it to suit their tastes. If you look at the pastas from around the world, each country has taken the original idea and put their own stamp on it (even America).

Answer 2

I guess it all depends on whose story you believe:

http://www.annamariavolpi.com/pasta_hist...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasta

http://www.101cookingrecipes.com/pasta-r...

http://www.windsor-communities.com/itali...

http://www.pasta.go.it/origin.htm

One thing seems steadfast though, and that is that the Marco Polo story seems to be untrue.

Answer 3

Noodles originated in China.  They were brought to Italy by Marco Polo.  They did not originate in America.

Answer 4

i think your dads a wee bit  to patriotic. pasta did not originate in America, if they did, it would have been the indians invention, which it  wasnt. it was the Chinese. marco polo brought it back, and they used there creativity to make something new and original. in a way, the idea came from chins, but the Italian pasta was there own creation.

Answer 5

Your dad is thinking of Meatballs.  When Italians first came to America, they didn't have much money so they used chop-meat and made meatballs to put into their sauce instead of the more pricier meats.  Like the first poster said, the Chinese invented the noodle.  Marco Polo brought it back to Italy and Wallah!  Look what the Italians did with it.  Most of the cuisine throughout Europe and America, is a recipe swap.

Answer 6

I think I remember being told it originated in China and that Marco Polo brought it back.  Hmmm, good question.

Answer 7

yes they got it from the Chinese they also took pizza from the Greeks watch the history channel show American eats they will back me up

Answer 8

I think you meant to say Chinese.  Americans invented very little (I'm talking about food).