Was there smoking in Europe prior to tobacco imports? (general, European, colonization)

[victimofGM]

Was there smoking, like with clay pipes, in Europe prior to the importing of tobacco and if so, what did they smoke?

[NJ Brazen_3133]

Maybe they just ate mushrooms.

This is actually a good question.

[DontH8Me]

Hemp has been cultivated in Eurasia since thousands of years BCE. When they started smoking it, I don't know - I'm sure at some point some of it caught fire and they delighted in the aroma.

[Ariete]

Originally Posted by DontH8Me

Hemp has been cultivated in Eurasia since thousands of years BCE. When they started smoking it, I don't know - I'm sure at some point some of it caught fire and they delighted in the aroma.

Nah, hemp was considered only a fabric. Smoking started in Europe after the colonisation of the New World. Even then it took 150 years to catch on, and only among the upper class. The general population spent their little money they had on another addictive substance - sugar. (And later - coffee.) Smoking became popular at the same time as the industrial revolution, so the history of smoking is quite short in Europe.

[victimofGM]

But what about imports of opium and hash from the east? Did this start before or after the colonization of America?

[ukrkoz]

Originally Posted by Ariete

Nah, hemp was considered only a fabric.

Nah, ganja was known as dope for centuries. European hemp growing in colder climates simply does not have cannabinoids in it. But hemp growing in warmer countries - India, Azerbaijan, etc, had it for thousands of years.
Did people smoke anything before tobacco was discovered? | History Extra
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistoria...europe_before/
https://www.google.com/#q=what+peopl...o+introduction

[Ariete]

Originally Posted by ukrkoz

Nah, ganja was known as dope for centuries. European hemp growing in colder climates simply does not have cannabinoids in it. But hemp growing in warmer countries - India, Azerbaijan, etc, had it for thousands of years.
Did people smoke anything before tobacco was discovered? | History Extra
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistoria...europe_before/
https://www.google.com/#q=what+peopl...o+introduction

This thread is about smoking in Europe, not smoking in India.

[dizzybint]

Can only think Opium.. but dont know.

[joachim1000]

No.
The first man that smoked in Europe was locked by the Inquisition.

[majoun]

There was hashish smoking in Moorish Spain