Cheesecake was first invented in ancient Greece over 4,000 years ago. The earliest known cheesecakes were made on the Greek island of Samos, using simple ingredients like wheat flour, pounded cheese, and honey. It was considered a good source of energy and was even served to athletes during the first Olympic Games in 776 B.C. The oldest written cheesecake recipe is credited to the Greek writer Athenaeus around 230 A.D. These early cheesecakes were quite different from modern versions. The recipe was later adopted and modified by the Romans, who added eggs to the mixture. Over centuries, cheesecake spread throughout Europe and evolved with local ingredients and styles. The creamy, modern-style cheesecake we are familiar with today originated in the United States in the late 19th century when William Lawrence, a New York dairyman, accidentally invented cream cheese. This led to the creation of the New York-style cheesecake. Arnold Reuben, owner of a New York restaurant, is credited with popularizing the cream cheese-based cheesecake in the early 20th century. In summary, cheesecake was originally invented by the ancient Greeks, evolved through Roman and European influence, and the modern cream cheese version was invented in the United States in the late 1800s.