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Q:

Who discovered cotton?

Hi everyone,

I am currently working on a research project about the history of textiles and I came across an interesting fact about cotton. I read that cotton has been around for thousands of years and has been used for clothing and textiles since ancient times. However, I am not sure who discovered cotton or where it originated from. Does anyone have any information or resources about the history of cotton and its discovery? I would greatly appreciate any help or insights you can offer. Thanks in advance!

All Replies

aufderhar.maurine

Hello all,

As a clothing and textiles enthusiast, I can attest to the fact that cotton has been an essential material for centuries. According to my research, the earliest discoveries of cotton can be traced to prehistoric times in Mexico, where cotton was not only used for clothing but also as currency.

However, commercially, cotton was cultivated in the Indus Valley Civilization around 3300 BCE. From there, cotton was brought to Europe by Arab traders, and later it spread to the Americas during the colonial era. Today, various countries produce cotton, and it is used in numerous industries, especially the textile industry.

Hope this helps with your research, happy to share my knowledge!

jayson07

Greetings,

As far as I know, cotton spans back around 5000 years ago, originating from South and Central Americas. According to many archaeologists and cotton experts, Mexico is likely to be the first place cotton was discovered. They found evidence of cotton fibers, which dates back to 5000 BCE. Many researchers believe cotton was also used as a medicinal plant for herbal remedies. Today, India and China are leading cotton producers.

Hope this adds to the discussion.

jacey.tillman

Hello everyone,

As someone who has professionally worked in the textile industry for decades, I can say that cotton is perhaps one of the most critical materials in this industry. According to my experience, cotton originated in India, and it is believed to have spread to other parts of the world via the Silk Road, an ancient trade route that connected the East and West.

The introduction of the cotton gin machine in the 18th century revolutionized the textiles industry, making it faster and cheaper to process cotton. Cotton has been used in many things, including clothing, medical supplies, upholstery, and even banknotes. In fact, many countries around the world have a cotton boll or a plant on their currency.

In conclusion, cotton is a fantastic material, and it's no surprise that it's so sought after by many industries worldwide.

Hope this information is helpful.

zspencer

Hi,

I've researched a bit on the topic and it seems that cotton was first cultivated in the Indus Valley Civilization in South Asia around 4500 BCE. However, the discovery of cotton itself probably happened much earlier than that as cotton fibers have been found in archaeological sites in Mexico that date back to 5000 BCE. Additionally, the ancient Egyptians were known to use cotton and there are references to cotton in the Bible as well.

I hope this information helps in your research!

ruecker.lenna

Hello folks,

I am an experienced farmer, and I have hand-tended several cotton crops. As far as my expertise goes, cotton is a plant that requires a lot of warmth and sun, and the oldest known cotton crop was grown in Peru 6000 years ago.

Cotton seeds made their way to India around 300 BCE, where farmers developed a variety of cotton known as the "tree cotton" plant. This plant produced cotton with long fibers that were well-suited for spinning into threads.

From India, cotton spread to other regions, including Egypt, China, and North Africa. Today cotton is a vital commercial crop, and it is used in the creation of garments, towels, bed sheets, and many other products.

I hope this input adds value to this discussion.

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