The origins of pizza can be traced back to ancient civilizations in the Mediterranean region, where flatbreads were topped with ingredients such as olive oil, cheese, and spices. However, the dish as we know it today, with tomato sauce and toppings, is believed to have originated in Naples, Italy in the 18th century.
At that time, the poor people of Naples would often top their flatbreads with tomatoes, cheese, and other ingredients as a cheap and filling meal. These flatbreads, known as “pizza” in Italian, soon became popular among the working-class population of Naples and eventually spread to the rest of Italy and beyond.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, large numbers of Italian immigrants brought pizza to the United States, where it quickly became a popular food. Today, pizza is enjoyed all over the world and has evolved into many different forms, with toppings ranging from classic margherita to more unconventional options such as barbecue chicken and Hawaiian.