Unleavened breads with toppings are characteristic of many cultures. Citizens of ancient Greece produced a flatbread called plakountos that was enlivened with herbs, onion, cheese, and garlic.
Persian soldiers baked flatbreads with cheese and dates on top of their battle shields. A precursor of pizza was probably focaccia, a Roman unleavened bread known as panis focacius, to which toppings were added.
