History of Olive Oil - Romanos Extra Virgin Olive Oils

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To trace the history of olive oil is to trace the history of the world itself. Revered for what has been believed to be magical properties, olive oil has found itself in the decrees of emperors, the politics of ancient civilizations and the ceremonies of countless religions. Much more than a food, olive oil's role as fuel, medicine, restorative and cultural symbol makes its significance comparable to any spice, even salt.

The sustainable cultivation of the mighty olive tree is believed to have begun around 3500 B.C. in Greece, specifically the island of Crete. Although olive oil pressing had existed for hundreds, even thousands of years at this point by some accounts, the Greeks are responsible for spreading the domestication of olives, and therefore the culture of olive oil. It's no surprise that the Greeks were the first to protect the fruit by law, condemning the willful felling of an olive tree as early as 700 B.C.

By 1500 B.C., olive oil was an economic pillar of Greek civilization, and their cultivation practices had spread across the Mediterranean Basin into Italy, France and also Phoenicia, the area that is today known as Lebanon. Meanwhile, the cultural importance of olive oil and the olive tree continued to grow. In 776 B.C., an olive branch was famously awarded as a symbol of peace to victorious athletes in the first Olympic Games. In later events, the branch was joined by generous quantities of olive oil itself, as much as 5 tons for a single winner, marking one of the earliest recorded accounts of awarding a sports competition with a monetary purse.

The global expansion of olives moved quickly in the 2nd and 3rd centuries B.C. by action of the Roman Republic and later the Roman Empire, who would plant vast fields of olive trees as a peace offering to conquered lands. By the height of the Empire's reign, olive trees were grown to great success in Spain and northern Africa, and olive presses were commonplace tools throughout the Basin. The broad geography of the occupation led to the production of countless olive oils, differing wildly in heat, flavor and sweetness, and slowly defining the precious oil's nature as a varietal product much like wine.

Olive oil goes wherever history goes, so when Europeans began the move to the new world of America post-1492, so too did the olives. By 1560, olive groves could be found in coastal Mexico, from where they spread to Peru, Argentina, Chile and California shortly after. Expansion continued, and today olive trees are cultivated in South Africa, China, Japan and even Australia, each new destination adding a distinct voice to the global admiration of olive oil.

Despite traveling so far from its Mediterranean home, olive oil has never lost its symbolic power. It is still a vital part of everyday life for numerous peoples across the globe, and with every new patch of soil that embraces the stout, nearly-immortal olive tree, the lessons of peace, perseverance and worldwide community are heard anew.