Fried chicken originated from a blend of culinary traditions primarily involving Scottish immigrants and African American cooks in the southern United States. The Scots brought a tradition of deep-frying chicken in fat, dating back to the 1700s, while African Americans added seasoning and cooking techniques from West African cuisine, creating the flavorful Southern fried chicken known today. This dish has influences from much older global practices of frying chicken in different cultures, including ancient Rome and West Africa, but the distinctly American Southern fried chicken emerged from this unique cultural fusion.