Archaeological findings from sites like Tell es-Sultan in Jericho indicate that oil production began around 4000 BCE. According to legend, the goddess Athena gifted the olive tree to the people of Athens, securing her patronage of the city.
Ancient Olive Oil Trade Routes and Their Origins
This vast network established the Mediterranean as the heart of olive oil production, a position it would maintain for millennia. The story of olive oil begins not in a modern factory, but in the wild landscapes of the Mediterranean basin, where the olive tree first took root.
Medieval to Modern Era Following the fall of the Roman Empire, olive oil production persisted, particularly in regions under the influence of the Byzantine Empire and the Islamic caliphates. It was a key ingredient in religious rituals, a base for perfumes and medicines, and a vital commodity for trade, making its production a significant economic activity.
Ancient Olive Oil Trade Routes Formed by Phoenicians and Greeks
Jars of oil have been found in shipwrecks and archaeological sites far from their origin points, testifying to a vibrant and widespread commerce. Trade and Cultural Diffusion The Phoenicians and later the Greeks were instrumental in creating the first trade routes for olive oil.
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