When did people start smoking tobacco?

The ancient Egyptians began smoking tobacco, followed by the ancient Asians, then Europe. No specific person discovered tobacco, and the first methods used was probably used by burning the dried leaves then inhaling it as it burned.

The practice may have begun as early as 5000–3000 BCE. Tobacco was introduced to Eurasia in the late 16th century where it followed common trade routes. The practice encountered criticism from its first import into the Western world onwards, but embedded itself in certain strata of a number of societies before becoming widespread upon the introduction of automated cigarette-rolling apparatus. GO on this link : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tobacco_smoking for more information on it, I used the second third and fourth sentences in the first paragraph.

people have been smoking since near 5000 BCE, however i'm not sure of the origins of tobacco, specifically. i do know that it was used by tribes as an item for barter and smoking, around/a little before the 1600's.

Native Americans introduced tobacco to American settlers. Here is a good link: