Wine+in+Greece+&+Rome


 * Timeline :**


 * 1) 9000 to 4000 BCE: Wine was first produced in the Zagros Mountains (Middle East) during the Neolithic period. This was a result of the abundance of the Eurasian grape vine, the use of pottery for storage, and the availability of grains year round.
 * 2) 3150 BCE: King Scorpion I was buried with seven casks of wine in Egypt. These burial gifts show how this wealthy commodity was traveling across the globe.
 * 3) 2500 BCE: Grape vines were being grown in the Mediterranean and possibly Greece.
 * 4) 400 BCE: Greek wine was shipped to France, Egypt, Crimean Peninsula, and northern Europe.
 * 5) 100 BCE: Romans became the dominant power in the Mediterranean, but borrowed Greek culture and wine making.
 * 6) 146 BCE: The Italian Peninsula became the wine producing capital of the world.
 * 7) 27 CE: Christ's miracle of turning water to wine.
 * 8) 1791 CE: The first successful grape harvest occurred in Australia. The vines, originally from the Cape of Good Hope, had taken three years to mature before they produced any grapes.
 * 9) 1833 CE: European wine vines are planted in Los Angleles
 * 10) 2000 CE: France, Italy, and Spain are the world's leading producers of wine

**Quotes:**

“The formal, intellectual atmosphere of the symposion also reminded the Greeks how civilized they were, in contrast to the barbarians, who either drank lowly, unsophisticated beer or-even worse-drank wine but failed to do so in a manner that met with Greek approval.” (52)

“Wine became a symbol of social differentiation, a mark of the wealth and status of the drinker.” (75)

"Christ's offering of wine to his disciplines at the Last Supper then led to its role in the Eucharist, the central Christian ritual in which bread and wine symbolize Christ's body and blood. This was, in many ways, a continuation of the tradition established by members of the cults of Dionysus and his Roman incarnation, Bacchus." (85)

"Muslims signaled their rejection of the old motions of civilization. Wine's central role in the rival creed of Christianity also predisposed Muslims against it" (87)

"Wherever alcohol is drunk, wine is regarded as the most civilized and cultured of drinks. In those countries, wine, not beer, is served at state banquets and political summits, an illustration of wine's enduring association with status, power, and wealth." (90)


 * PERSIA: **

Politics - Wine was used as the official beverage for philosophical discussions or seminars in ancient Greece and Rome. Equated with intellect and sophistication, wine was a central component of the Greek symposium, where scholars and upper class citizens came together to share and discuss ideas that shaped political thought. The Romans followed the Grecian model with their convivium, which was essentially the same idea of open discussion among upper class, respected males in the society. The Roman convivium continued the tradition of serving fine wines to the guests as a way to allude to their high status and level of sophistication.

Economics - Wine greatly influenced trade in the Mediterranean because both Greek and Italian wine were at one point the most sought after wines in the world. As wine became a more popular beverage, commerce expanded into northern and eastern Europe. As wine production became more popular, subsistence agriculture could not keep up with the rising global demand for Italian wine, giving rise to slavery on the large villas. Also, as wine production began to replace grain production, Italy became more dependent on African grain.

Religion - Wine became significant in the early stages of modern Christianity with Christ’s first miracle, in which he turned over a hundred gallons of water into wine. Christians also incorporated wine into their religious ceremonies, thus making it highly respected. However, the Muslim prophet Muhammad condemned wine consumption because of the ill effects that intoxication had on his followers.

Society - Throughout wine’s history, it has been used to delineate social distinctions. At first only the wealthy could afford this expensive drink, but as trade and supply increased social division were soon based on the quality of wine one could afford. Wine is a drink that encompasses all cultures and has been respected by many societies. At its beginning, the affluent made its consumption a fashionable activity. The Romans furthered its influence by making the most desirable wine in the world.

Intellect - Beginning in Ancient Greece, wine began to be a symbol of sophistication and prestige. Wine consumption at the Greek symposium and later on at the Roman convivium facilitated scholarly discussion on subjects ranging from art to politics. Plato encouraged the symposium by saying it tested oneself and even laid down rules for how to conduct a proper symposium. Owning a fine, expensive wine revealed that one was most likely a member of high society and thus able to afford the best education available.

Art - Wine’s growing popularity and prestige inspired advancements in pottery and other ceramic art. Carefully crafted bowls and jugs were often elaborately decorated with red and black clay. These design techniques spread around the world, and some of the surviving pieces serve a window the earliest artistic methods.


 * Images: **

 This is a painting of a symposium where men drank wine and discussed philosophy, which promoted the idea that wine was the most civilized drink.



Because the vase is decorated with an image of a symposium, it illustrates how wine affected the art during the era.



**Works Cited:**

"History of Wine | View Timeline." History of Wine | View Timeline. Timeline, n.d. Web. 22 Aug. 2013.

Holy Communion. Digital image. Catholicismpure.wordpress.com. Catholicism Pure & Simple, 7 Mar. 2012. Web. 20 Aug. 2013.

"How Much Wine Did Jesus Create at Cana." Catholicmannight.com. CatholicManNight, 20 Jan. 2013. Web. 20 Aug. 2013.

Standage, Tom. A History of the World in 6 Glasses. New York: Walker &, 2005. Print.

Symposium. Digital image. Faculty.concordia.ca. POMs History, n.d. Web. 20 Aug. 2013.

Terracotta Bell-Krater. Digital image. Metmuseum.org. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, n.d. Web. 20 Aug. 2013.

Wells, Kathryn. "Australia's Wine Industry." Australia.gov.au. Australian Government, 14 Dec. 2007. Web. 22 Aug. 2013.