"There was substantial trade."
Any estimates of when the first plate of Pasta with/without Tomato sauce was served in Italy?
The Roman legions travelled on cabbage and a pouch of grain, which they had to mill for themselves. This made them edgy and always on the lookout for better food. They still don't quite get the idea of pizza.
Wasn't it in the 1200's that Marco Polo brought noodles back from China? And then, in the 1500's the tomato was obtained from the new world (Americas).
The first pasta was probably served shortly after Marco Polo reurned with the secret of how to make spaghetti.
By the way, if you've ever seen it made by hand in the ancient manner, it's quite remarkable.