What Is The History Of Cigarettes?

The history of cigarettes dates back to the early 16th century when Spaniards conquerors witnessed the Aztec Indians smoking an ancient cigarette- it was a cane or reed tube stuffed with tobacco.  Sometimes other Americans wrapped tobacco in cornhusks.

Nevertheless it was the Spaniards who introduced the cigar as an indulgence for the affluent.  Early in the 16th century, beggars of Seville picked up discarded cigar butts, shredded the contexts rolled them back in paper and termed those as cigarillos.

However it was in the late 18th century that cigarettes became a symbol of affluence.  For the affluent, the tobacco was of a lighter, milder nature.  A cigarette factory was established in 1853 but it was after the Crimean war where British got the first taste of cigarettes, which was the outset of cigarette's immense upcoming popularity.  The French were the people who gave cigarettes their present name, which meant 'little cigar'.

Names of different cigarette brands in the 20's and 30's