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

3. Timeline of Mediterranean Wine Trade
 8000BC – 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

4. Timeline of Mediterranean Wine Trade
 1500BC – 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

5. Mesopotamia
 Mesopotamia was Greek for ‘the land between the two
rivers’
 These rivers were the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
 This area is now known as Iraq
 There are signs of the first wines being produced in
this region from 8000BC
 Evidence of the first winery during 6000BC

6. Mesopotamia

7. Phoenicia
 Phoenicia 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

8. Phoenicia

9. Phoenician Trading Routes

10. Egypt
 Wine and vines were introduced to Egyptians from
Mesopotamia and Phoenicia
 The best wine growing region was in the Delta
 Wine was predominantly produced for kings and
tombs were decorated with scenes of winemaking
 Winemaking techniques were
used more frequently in this era
 Evidence of trellising systems
has also been found

11. Egypt

12. Greece
 Have been producing wine for over 6000 years
 Introduced vines to France, Italy, Spain
 Created the first labels on amphorae which included
the variety, winemaker and location

13. Greek Trading Routes

14. Resources
 Spiliotopoulos, 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=102
 Poe, M. (2011). Wine in acient Egypt. Retrieved on 12 August 2013 from
http://www.touregypt.net/egypt-info/magazine-mag11012000-
magf2.htm
 Wikipedia. (n.d.). Phoenicia. Retrieved on 12 August 2013 from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenicia#High_point:_1200.E2.80.9380
0.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/