Anyone wishing to learn more about the history of the cigar will need to begin at the beginning: with Columbus. On his arrival in the new continent of America in 1492 he was the first European to encounter people who smoked cigars. In the region he visited smoking was reserved for chiefs and priests, and it was attributed with healing powers. Columbus was personally more interested in gold, silver and spices; but his crew were more prescient, and brought tobacco leaves back with them. And that was when tobacco gradually began to conquer the old continent of Europe.