Final answer:
Sugarcane was first developed and domesticated in Southeast Asia. It was introduced to the Americas by Europeans and became a major economic force, resulting in the exploitation of enslaved Africans on sugar plantations, especially in Brazil and the Caribbean.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sugarcane was first developed and domesticated in the archipelagos of Southeast Asia. The domestication of sugarcane had far-reaching consequences, as Arab traders introduced the plant to the Middle East. Europeans, who initially encountered sugar during the Crusades, developed a strong affinity for it, leading to the establishment of sugarcane plantations in the Madeiras and Canary Islands by the Portuguese and Spanish. This change resulted in sugar overtaking honey as the primary sweetener in Europe.
When Europeans introduced sugarcane to the Americas, it thrived in tropical climates, particularly in regions like the Caribbean, Central, and South America. The high demand for sugar created a dire need for agricultural labor, which led to the harrowing institution of plantation-style slavery. More than two thirds of all enslaved Africans in the Western Hemisphere labored in sugar cultivation, primarily in Brazil and the Caribbean.
In summary, sugarcane's development originated in Southeast Asia and was brought westward through trade and colonization. Its cultivation shaped economic and social histories, with sugar becoming as central to the Atlantic economy as oil is to ours today. Unfortunately, the success of sugar plantations came at the cost of human suffering, with enslaved Africans being exploited to meet the massive labor demands of sugar production.