Mediterranean Trade of WineNatalie Bowman

“ the peoples of the Mediterranean began to emerge from barbarism when they learned to cultivate the olive and the vine” - Thucydides

Timeline of Mediterranean Wine Trade8000BC – Earliest signs of wine production in

Mesopotamia

6500BC – Wine production in Macedonia

6000BC – First signs of a winery in Mesopotamia

3000BC – Domestic grapes grown in Egypt , Mesopotamia and Greece

Timeline of Mediterranean Wine Trade1500BC – Phoenicians begin trading along the

Mediterranean Sea

1500-1000BC – Vineyards begin to be planted throughout Greece

900-800BC – Phoenicians plant vines and teach winemaking through Spain

400-300BC – Wine becomes a main commodity and modern winemaking techniques are used as experimentation with wine begins

MesopotamiaMesopotamia was Greek for ‘the land

between the two rivers’These rivers were the Tigris and Euphrates

RiversThis area is now known as IraqThere are signs of the first wines being

produced in this region from 8000BCEvidence of the first winery during 6000BC

Mesopotamia

PhoeniciaPhoenicia created a maritime trading

civilisation along the coastline of what is now Lebanon

The Phoenicians began the trade of wine along with wood, glass and Tyrian purple dye

The use of amphorae or ‘Canaanite jar’ to carry wine was spread to different regions via trading

Phoenicia

Phoenician Trading Routes

EgyptWine and vines were introduced to Egyptians

from Mesopotamia and Phoenicia The best wine growing region was in the

DeltaWine was predominantly produced for kings

and tombs were decorated with scenes of winemaking

Winemaking techniques were used more frequently in this eraEvidence of trellising systems has also been found

Egypt

GreeceHave been producing wine for over 6000

yearsIntroduced vines to France, Italy, SpainCreated the first labels on amphorae which

included the variety, winemaker and location

Greek Trading Routes

ResourcesSpiliotopoulos, K. (2013). Greek wine history. Retrieved on 12 August

2013 from http://www.nestorimports.com/greek-wine-history/Wine in ancient Egypt. (n.d.). Retrieved on 12 August 2013 from

http://www.vinaspora.com/EN/about_wine/index.php?artId=102Poe, M. (2011). Wine in acient Egypt. Retrieved on 12 August 2013 from

http://www.touregypt.net/egypt-info/magazine-mag11012000-magf2.htmWikipedia. (n.d.). Phoenicia. Retrieved on 12 August 2013 from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenicia#High_point:_1200.E2.80.93800.C2.A0BC

Gore, R. (n.d.). Who were the phoenicians? Retrieved on 12 August 2013 from tp://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0410/feature2/map.html

Map of Mesopotamia Retrieved on 12 August 2013 from http://www.fsmitha.com/h1/map01mes.htm

History of Wine I: From Ancient Times to Enlightment. (2010). Retrieved on July 27, 2013 from http://www.tapchiruouvang.com/en/learn-wine-detail/83/history-of-wine-i-from-ancient-times-to-the-enlightment/