The banana is tree is one of the oldest cultivated plants known to man. In fact it is believed that banana cultivation began between 10 to 15,000 years ago. FUN.
Fun fact two: the banana originated in South East Asia and was spread to Europe by Arab traders aka the Moors.
Fun fact threed: we can thank Christopher Columbus for our modern day banana, and you know why? The Columbian Exchange obviously. Yes the discovery of the new world by the our old Italian friend was not only responsible for introducing new and exotic foods to Europeans, but us here westerners got a little somethin’ somethin’ out of the deal as well. And, remember the dreaded, gold obsessed, blood thirsty, murderous hordes of Spanish Conquistadors whom we are all trained to loath? Well they were the ones who brought bananas to the western hemisphere thus forever enriching our diets. Those dirty dogs!
Fun fact four: all the commercial bananas we consume today are of the Cavendish variety, and not only that but they are all clones. So it was really bananas they were fighting for in the Clone Wars movie. Super-Fun Fact.