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submitted 2 months ago by fossilesque@mander.xyz to c/science_memes@mander.xyz

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[-] GhostedIC@sh.itjust.works 7 points 2 months ago

Wait, how can that be right? Shakespeare had access to coca leaves and was smoking them? I know it's not literally impossible but it seems unlikely...

[-] Yosmonkol@piefed.social 9 points 2 months ago

Francis Thackeray, in his 2025 article, suggests Sir Francis Drake could have acquired it when sailing in the area. Since traces of it were also discovered in 1600s Milan its possible that the spanish were circulating it. This 2024 study discusses how the Spanish at least knew of it as early as 1499.

this post was submitted on 21 Apr 2026

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