Hemp is one of the oldest cultivated plants in human history, valued for its strength, versatility, and nutritional qualities. Its earliest uses date back thousands of years, with archaeological evidence showing that ancient civilizations across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe relied heavily on the plant for essential materials long before modern industrial uses emerged.

The oldest known use of hemp appears in ancient China around 8,000–6,000 BCE. Archaeologists have uncovered hemp fibers in pottery from the Neolithic Yangshao culture, indicating that early communities used the plant for textiles and cordage. Hemp’s long, durable fibers made it ideal for making rope, clothing, and early forms of fabric. By roughly 4,000 BCE, China had also begun using hemp to produce some of the earliest known paper. The Chinese word for hemp, “má,” appears frequently in historical records, noting its importance not only as a fiber crop but also as a source of food, since hemp seeds were consumed and valued for their oil.

From China, hemp spread across Asia. In ancient Taiwan, archaeologists found hemp cord markings impressed on pottery dating back more than 10,000 years. In India, hemp was recognized for its medicinal and spiritual properties as early as 2,000–1,500 BCE. Known in Sanskrit as “bhanga,” it was incorporated into Ayurvedic practices and religious rituals. Texts from the Atharva Veda describe hemp as one of the plant “guardians of well-being,” highlighting its role in early medicine and ceremony.

Hemp also played a significant role in the ancient Middle East. Evidence from Mesopotamia, dating back to around 800 BCE, shows the use of hemp for textiles and possibly for medicinal ointments. The Scythians—nomadic tribes of Central Asia—used hemp in ritual contexts, famously described by Herodotus around 450 BCE, who wrote that they burned hemp seeds and inhaled the vapors as part of purification ceremonies.

As trade routes expanded, hemp moved westward into Europe. By around 500 BCE, hemp cultivation was well established in Greece, where it was used primarily for rope, sailcloth, and other maritime needs. The Romans continued this tradition, using hemp extensively for ship rigging, military equipment, and clothing. Hemp’s role in naval technology became especially important, as strong, rot-resistant ropes were essential for seafaring societies.

Northern Europe embraced hemp as well. Viking cultures relied on it for rope and sailcloth, which were crucial for long-distance travel. By the Middle Ages, hemp was a staple crop across much of Europe. Many European countries even had laws requiring farmers to grow it, given its strategic importance for producing ropes and canvas—materials that supported trade, warfare, and daily life.

In summary, hemp’s earliest uses were widespread and remarkably consistent: rope, textiles, paper, food, and medicine. From ancient China to India, the Middle East, and Europe, nearly every early civilization found essential uses for hemp. Its resilience, fast growth, and fiber strength made it one of humanity’s first and most important cultivated plants—a status it held for millennia.

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