Question

Rum was not produced before European colonization of the West Indies because?

1) distillation technologies were unknown before that time
2) sugar was previously too rare and expensive for beverages
3) its use was only popularized by the British Navy after colonization
4) Venetian cane sugar monopolies prevented its use for distilled beverages

Answer 1

Rum was not produced in the West Indies before European colonization because the cultivation of sugarcane, a primary ingredient in rum, was introduced by European merchants who used enslaved Africans to work on sugar plantations. The molasses, a by-product of sugar production, could then be distilled into rum.

Step-by-step explanation:

Rum was not produced before European colonization of the West Indies because the cultivation of sugarcane, which is a primary ingredient in rum production, was developed in the Caribbean as a result of European involvement. European merchants established sugar plantations in the New World using enslaved people from West Africa to work on these plantations and produce sugar. The molasses, a by-product of sugar production, could then be distilled into rum.