| The
olive tree - along with wine-- was the greatest source of
wealth from trade in the ancient world. |
In
ancient Rome, olive oil was classified in five categories:
oleum ex albis ulivis, from green olive; viride,
from olives which were beginning to blacken; maturum,
from ripe olives; caducum, from olives fallen on
the ground; and cibarium, from rotten olives,
which was for the consumption of the slaves. |
Populations
conquered by the Romans were ordered to pay taxes in the
form of olive oil. Under Roman rule, the Mediterranean region
was divided according to olive oil markets. |
The
Romans established procedures to govern the supply, distribution,
and trade of olive oil. Seafaring vessels insured
its speedy transportation. |
