British men believe Chicken Tikka Masala is authentic British food, however, Chinese people praise Kung Pao chicken, French respect classical Poule au pot, Americans take chicken soup as excellent food. Chicken meat is the most popular food of our times, whose fresh and tender taste has crossed multicultural boundaries all over the whole world kitchen. Therefore, when famous motivational philosopher Jack Canfield was looking for the best name for his best seller of psychology, "Chicken Soup for the Soul" was thought of by him, instead of "Clam Chowder for the Soul"

However, how exactly the chicken meat conquer the world?

Cultural and Origin

In 2004, Chinese scientists and international geneticists have jointly drew a complete a genetic map of chicken, proving 60% of chicken gene are the same with humans', furthermore birds and human share the a common ancestor 310 million years ago. As the first domestic animal to have finished genetic sequencing, the chicken genetic map have provided a vital research value for human evolution

Modern DNA studies have confirmed that the red jungle fowl is the direct ancestor of domestic chickens, the red jungle fowl was originally distributed mainly in southern China and northern India, with thousands of years of human cultural, commercial trade and migration conquest, domesticated chickens from Asia Jungle spread to the rest of the world. Historical data show that China's chicken northward spread to Japan through the Korean peninsula, and the Indus Valley is the starting point westward spread of chicken. 4000 years ago, the city-state of Harappan civilization traded frequently with the Middle East. unearthed objects and chicken bone fossil excavated by archaeologists indicate that domestic fowl may arrive at Arabian Peninsula from Lothal port of ancient India west coast, then spread to Greek, Syria and Babylon through Persia by land.

On the Mediterranean coast, archaeologists unearthed chicken bone fossils around 800 BC. When domestic chicken was introduced to India, chicken meat became the Romans' commonly consumed foods. Romans who likes eating chicken invented various delicious foods, such as omelette and stuffed roast chicken. In the culture of pursuit of luxury, Roman farmers came up with ways to fatten chicken, for example, someone using wheat bread soaked in red wine to feed for chicken, someone mixing fennel, barley and lizard fat together to make feedstuff. According to the historical records, in the 1st century B. C, Ancient Rome clerical college prepared a fancy dinner and on the table pastry deep-fired hen is the main dish.

In 161 BC, due to concerns about social and moral decline for people's over pursuit of luxury, Roman Republic issued a decree to limit the maximum quantity of chicken eating for every meal, that is only one chicken served for each table at every meal—but should be the one without over feeding. Soon, Roman chef found castrated cock was more easily to get meat, thus Capon was born.

Professor of Archaeology, University of London, Kevin Macdonald said that after the collapse of the Roman Empire, "Size of chicken back to the Iron Age." He speculated that During Roman times, people set up fully equipped large-scale poultry farms, then gradually disappeared. Chicken was in a worse position in Europe, gradually being replaced by geese and partridges and other poultry.

By Middle Ages, Europeans still lived on bread and other cereal food, however, chicken, meat, pork and dairy products, as an important source of animal protein, are very expensive, mainly for the rich people. According to the British writer Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales", where describes poor farmers often eating black bread and occasionally eating one or two eggs. Therefore, lacking of protein foods at that time can be imaged.

In the 16th century of France, When the King Henry IV debated with the duke Savoy, he uttered the famous words, "I hope that all farmers can eat a pot of stewed chicken at least every weekend", which was to enhance the chicken dish to the height of people's livelihood.

In the late reign of Henry IV, Constitutional monarchy in France got consolidated, the economy gradually recovered, the French had formed tradition of having chicken on Sunday. Since then, the stewed chicken became a main course in French family Sunday dinner and Holiday Celebrate. French also bred the best chicken in the world - Poulet de Bresse, which was produced in Brest the east of France and famous for its fresh and tender taste and high quality, regarded as food miracle. Although with high price, it became a favored attraction to senior chefs and foodies.