<P> Although its origin may go back to Ancient Greece, the personal table fork was most likely invented in the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire, where they were in common use by the 4th century . Records show that by the 9th century in some elite circles of Persia a similar utensil known as a barjyn was in limited use . By the 10th century, the table fork was in common use throughout the Middle East . </P> <P> The introduction of the fork to Western Europe, according to theologian and cardinal Peter Damian, was by Theophano Sklereina, wife of Holy Roman Emperor Otto II, who at an Imperial banquet in 972 nonchalantly produced one, astonishing her Western guests . By the 11th century, the table fork had become increasingly prevalent in the Italian peninsula before other European regions because of historical ties with Byzantium and, as pasta became a greater part of the Italian diet, continued to gain popularity, displacing the long wooden spike formerly used since the forks three spikes proved better suited to gathering the noodles . By the 14th century the table fork had become commonplace in Italy, and by 1600 was almost universal among the merchant and upper classes . It was proper for a guest to arrive with his own fork and spoon enclosed in a box called a cadena; this usage was introduced to the French court with Catherine de' Medici's entourage . Although in Portugal forks were first used around 1450 by Infanta Beatrice, Duchess of Viseu, King Manuel I of Portugal's mother, only by the 16th century, when they had become part of Italian etiquette, did forks enter into common use in Southern Europe, gaining some currency in Spain, and gradually spreading to France . The rest of Europe did not adopt the fork until the 18th century . </P> <P> The fork's adoption in northern Europe was slower . Its use was first described in English by Thomas Coryat in a volume of writings on his Italian travels (1611), but for many years it was viewed as an unmanly Italian affectation . Some writers of the Roman Catholic Church expressly disapproved of its use, St. Peter Damian seeing it as "excessive delicacy": It was not until the 18th century that the fork became commonly used in Great Britain, although some sources say that forks were common in France, England and Sweden already by the early 17th century . </P> <P> The fork did not become popular in North America until near the time of the American Revolution . The curved fork used in most parts of the world today was developed in Germany in the mid 18th century while the standard four - tine design became current in the early 19th century . The fork was important in Germany because they believed that eating with the fingers was rude and disrespectful . The fork led to family dinners and sit - down meals, which are important features of German culture . </P>

When was the fork first used in england
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