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This is the sleepy history of Pasta, narrated by Jessica Gersel, written by Alexandra Turney.

The story of Paster is rather tangled, a bit like a plate of spaghetti.

As you pick up a forkful, it can be hard to keep it all together, and to work out exactly

where each piece begins and ends.

How was pasta eaten during the Renaissance, and why was it nearly banned in Italy in the 1930s?

We'll try our best to answer these questions and more, as we trace the story of this dish through its many names and forms.

So just relax and let your mind drift as we explore the sleepy history of pasta.

Our story begins not, as you might expect, in Italy, but in Asia, with the invention of noodles.

In 2005, archaeologists in China discovered a bowl containing 4,000-year-old noodles made from millet.

There are also written records mentioning noodles that date back to the Eastern Han Dynasty, around the early 1st century, CE.

That's a long time before pasta officially appeared in Italy.

So, does that mean the Chinese invented pasta?

Well, not necessarily.

Many would argue that pasta is an Italian invention,

and that noodles are something different.

They're separate foods which were invented independently.

Still, let's consider the similarity between pasta and noodles, at least in general terms. Both are made from unleavened

dough and are often cut or stretched into long, thin strips. Then, both pasta and noodles are usually boiled and served with a sauce.

So, it seems right to acknowledge that technically China got their first.

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