For thousands of years chewing gum has existed to help us humans relax and give us something to do.  Cave people did not have television or the Internet to keep them occupied so they may have chewed gum to pass the time.  The chewing gum of present day had its' roots in the mid 1800s.  Stick gum seems to be fading into obscurity while small gum seems to be taking hold.  Sugarfree gum is super popular with today's consumers.