Food for Thought: Origins of Mediterranean Food

Campanilismo

comes from the word bell tower- next to a church and the bell would be rung if there was a meeting, emergency, etc. Belltower is the symbol for local interaction. Identifying with the local first rather than the national. For example, an italian would say they are from rome instead of from italy

Neolithic age

italians began to grow their own food in 5000 BC in the Neolithic Revolution. Crops that were cultivated were einkorn, emmer wheats, barley, lentils, vetch, flax, farro (earlier form of wheat and different shaft). They also kept livestock (aurochs, etc) There are more tools, better knowledge, more trade which causes more spreading of information which allowed establishment of agriculture rather than hunting and gathering societies In sardinia, there is pocket of archaeological evidence

sicily (also bread basket of italy)

largest region

upper class foods

meat, eggs, dairy, cheese, etc because cost of production are expensive so only some people could afford them

emilia-romagna

most important agricultural region of italy

Cena (dinner)

most important meal of the day; for some people, it was their only meal of the day (many skipped breakfast or lunch out of necessity) -Lower classes: slaves were provided food by their masters, plebeians depended on the generosity of patronus (wealthy patrons seeking support and loyalty from cleins), most city homes (apartments) had no place to cook hot foods -Upper classes: most lavish meal of the day, especially on feast days (160 days per year)

tabernane

not permitted to sell meat, so vendors boiled and sold meat in the street. Roasted meat such as ham, pig's head, with eels, olives, figs, sausage, fishballs, meatballs, salads, poultry, marinated vegetables, cheeses, eggs, and omelettes could all be found for sale in Rome

pictures in etruscan tombs

represent the biodiversity

autonomous regions

sardegna, sicily, valle d'aosta, tretinto-alto adige, fruili-venezia giulia

reclining feasting method

seen in the Etruscans and Roman cultures. They use the beds to dine and banquet for comfort, style, etc. It is an intimate eating experience. The Greeks didn't allow women in the banquets but Etruscans and Romans did.

valle d'aosta

smallest region

thermopolia

sold hot food along with wine in Rome. Stone jars were on the counters for insulating hot and cold foods. the menus were pictures for people who were illiterate or didn't know the language

Life of Luxury by Ark

the Greeks describe the tuna catch and where to get the best tuna in Sicily. He talks about Food: location, quality of food regarding location, and seasonality.

Phoenicians and greeks

the ones that bring traditions that are novel to Italy

importance of the autonomous regions

they have special protection in the Italian constitution that allows them to be bilingual in official functionalities and they were given special powers so they would remain with Italy after WW2

tomb of the reliefs

this is towards the end of etruscan rein in Italy (before Romans take over). In the tomb, they value a lot of objects in the home. They had all of the stuff that they need in the tomb to live a good afterlife. They include puppies (hunting dogs), vessels for olive oil and wine, things related to hunting/outdoor life, cooking containers, table (mortarium) on 3 legs- can chop,stir, kneed anything in it, images of banqueting, hunting and fishing images (the colors/actions of the pictures represent the rich biodiversity seen at this time), a lot of stuff in tomb are for food preparation items because you wanted to eat well in the afterlife. There are pictures of cheetahs in the tomb which means they had connection to the peoples of Africa (extra prestige because they know what that animal is). There is also a picture in a tomb with the process of food being prepared (social classes are very distinguished by clothing in the image).

Iron Age

ushered in by the Villanovan (proto-etruscan) culture- development of cultures in italy and clearly defined by the things they produce and they are also defined by language Can start thinking about campanilismo in this agebecause of the many cultural differences

Popina

was an inn where food was served (often associated with prostitution)

Prandium (lunch)

-Lower classes: leftover food, bread, puls (porridge) -Upper classes: bread, puls, cold meat or fish, leftovers, eggs, olives, fruit and cheese Many ate this at the bathhouse, where people could exercise, swim, bath and get massages. Food could be purchased there (biscuits, sweets, fried snacks, marinated vegetables, fruit, meatballs, fish and sausage)

Dining outside of the home in rome (taverns)

-Pompeii- 118 bars (tabernae) and 20 hotels found so far- Pompeii is a port city and people arrive for trading, etc -thermopolia -tabernane -Oenopodium -fornax -Popina

roman food consumption

-Roman meals in the earlier period consisted of ientaculum (breakfast), a midday cena and a late snack called the vesperna -Later on in the empire the meal names changed consisted of the ientaculum, midday prandium (lunch) and a late afternoon cena

Prehistoric Italy

-Some evidence of homo erectus .5 million years ago -Homo sapiens present .25 million years ago -Evidence of continuous human life on the italian peninsula since the last Ice Age (Paleolithic humans)- early signs of culture (thru remains, waste products, pottery, etc) -Middle stone age: we know people were in italy but not a lot of evidence -Neolithic age -In the copper (Chalcolithic) age, there was a transitory phase between the neolithic and bronze age (eneolithic). We have more evidence because there is more literacy, technology, and there was a technological revolution in the bronze age. There is more documentation of trade from the bronze age.

roman empire

-extremely wealthy upper class, vast number of slaves, large class of plebeian free citizens (normal everyday people) and many foreigners- (rome is a cosmopolitan city and many languages are being spoken and lots of variety of food) -Around 100 AD, there are years of vast expansion and the empire spreads to modern turkey, up to the UK, and in parts of North Africa

roman republic

-governed by elected consuls and a senate, along with the land-owning aristocracy (patricians) -Periods of great expansion (greek and north african territories)

Etruscans

-introduced fallow field systems as opposed to slash and burn (crop rotation)- allowed them to establish cities because they are able to stay in one area longer, and create more wealth and food -created nascent irrigation/well systems -Had leisure (upper) class that indulged in banquets and feasts- because they were so prosperous-they probably had them to show off their wealth, gain the favor of other powerful people, cultivate favors, show they are an important person, etc. They are a social component no matter what the feast was for. -They speak a pre-indoeuropea language and not related to any languages across the world -They were most likely indigenous to this land from DNA analysis -They read, wrote, had a complex societal structure, their language has survived in fragments so not a lot of linguistic info -when the roman empire arrives, they are taken into roman society rather than disappearing -Food production and consumption- olives, grapes, wines, vinegar, figs, peas, chickpeas, livestock, beans, wild boar, chestnuts (they are growing the Mediterranean staples- these foods are indigenous to this area of italy) -left few literary records because their language was lost and there are only fragments so archeologists and historians must rely on Roman and Greek accounts, and visual representations and artifacts that were preserved in tombs -They had cheese graters, cooking vessels called braziers, etc. -most people had braziers but not everyone had cheese graters because cheese was a luxury item since it is expensive to produce -They had a cheese grater broach (fibula) and people wore them around to show their societal status -Tomb of the Reliefs -reclining feasting method -their wine culture was adapted by the romans -Vessels for wine and olive oil are beautifully decorated with intricate designs. There are olive trees on the vase and the funnel shape is for wine. The wealthiest of people used these containers. -Grains such as barley, farro, and millet were used to make bread, using a technique where the dough was baked on hot stones in an oven. T -many of their techniques were adapted by the romans

Greeks

-more urbanization/cities -take over parts of italy (naples in particular) -cultural distinctions between barbarians-do not practice agriculture or establish cities via agriculture -more noticeable distinction between social classes -lower social classes eat bread/gruel made from barley, rye, oats, and lentils. They eat basic staples. -upper social classes eat a wider variety of food including vegetables, eggs, meat, cheese, etc. -this culture is very prominent in southern italy and sicily -They cultivate/bring to italy: herbs, olives, grapes, finokio, capers, garlic -bring a lot of written text -Life of Luxury by Ark

Phoenicians

-settled in parts of Sicily in 700 BCE and Sardinia. They never really make it into the Italian Peninsula. -from North Africa -contributed many important products and ingredients such as garum, a preserved fish sauce, and cultivated crops and fruits such as pomegranates, figs, olives, legumes, and herbs. They bring this essential condiment and fruits/veggies that were grown in different parts of the world. -bring their knowledge of production of salt to Sicily- they have salt pans/flats. It is an area close to sea and a gate opens at high tide and water flows in, and then closes it off and the water evaporates, leaving the salt deposits. The salt is collected, processed, and then bottled. -They bring their fishing practices (catching tuna). This is a crucial/primary industry for them. They have great/nimble ships that can do this kind of work. There are tuna on their coins. The way they catch fish in Italy today, they still fish in this way. Mattanza fishing technique- throw out a net and circle the boat, then draw the boat closer and closer until you can individuate the tuna and then pull in the net and stab them with spears. It is still used in parts of Sicily.

roman monarchy

753 BC- mythical foundation of Rome -Romulus the soldier and Remus the shepherd -transition from pastoral age to age of agriculture

Mediterranean diet

Every meal: fruits, veggies, breads/pastas- all in the same pyramid level; unlike US pyramid where breads/pastas is first level by themselves Every day: milk, olive oil, onions, nuts Every week: fish, cured meats, legumes, desserts, red meat Suggested by Italian Food Pyramid: Eat together with other people, eat things that are in season, and eat locally. -can be traced to Pompeii- early trade and migration helped spread Mediterranean diet

Ientaculum (breakfast)

For most people, breakfast didn't exist because of food insecurities -Lower classes: dry bread (panis), leftover food from previous cena -Upper classes: bread dipped in milk or diluted wine, curd cheese with honey, olives, raisins, fruit, nuts

Triclinium

Greek for "three beds", also dining room area- the Etruscans and Greeks dined like this and the upper classes in Rome ate this way. This word means dining room in Rome. People lounged and ate on beds. They had a mensa (table) in the middle and 3 primary couches. Guests of honor would eat on the middle couch. The host would be on the lower couch (host, hostess/other family, freeman- a person who worked their way out of slavery). Low-status guests would eat on the high couch (shadows (tagalongs) and parasites (people not necessarily formally invited)). The slaves are not sitting at the spaces but they deliver the food. All classes are represented(dining room)- it represents the Roman world and the table becomes a metaphor for the Earth. The view is either nature, murals, mosaics, etc and there is entertainment in the view space (musicians, dancers, poets, actors, etc). The view above is the heavens/stars and the floor represents the underworld. If anything touches the floor, the Romans would not eat the food. There are also open air ones where the view is the stars. This is a symbolic space and very important to the Romans- they put a lot of money into them. The art has different colors and shading to show biodiversity.

rome living conditions

Most people are living in extremely crowded tiny apartment buildings in ancient rome- because of this people didn't have access to a kitchen, weren't allowed to cook in their homes, or really expensive to cook. Most people ate out.

otzi

We know a good deal about the food produced and consumed in northern Italy because of him. he is carrying a copper ax, who lived in 3300 BC (found in a glacier by hikers, found in alps, he is most studied individual from copper age, got a lot of info from the copper age because of him, he was murdered by being shot in the back by an arrow, he was 45 when he died, he was a hunter but everyone was a hunter in alps cuz agriculture harder to be supported -had arrows, bow, copper ax (probably a leader of some sort), containers of birch fungus, hazelnut shells (don't grow in alps but in po river valley- probably associated with people in pre-alps), grains, peas, dried legumes- important because he showed us what ppl in italy were eating during this time and how people lived in the Mediterranean- in his stomach he had dried meat (ibex) and grains- Pollen samples suggest that he died in spring, meaning that the einkorn and fruit were preserved in some manner (probably dried or salted), he also had 61 tattoos on places that had wear and tear and used as a kind of therapy

Oenopodium

a type of restaurant that served wine

Romulus and Remus

a wolf drops them off and they find 7 hills of Rome and use it as their territory. Romulus killed Remus and the city is named after Romulus. These twins are born and people don't want them to become future kings. The person tells someone to kill the babies and throw them in the river. Instead, the babies are put in a basket and float down a river and they wash up on shore, and are raised by a wolf until a shepherd and wife find them. They grow up and there is a dispute over the 7 hills of Rome. This story indicates the transition between the pastoral age (age of nomadic) to the age of agriculture and establishing great cities. The soldier represents civilization/warfare. Romulus is the symbol of civilization and he is killing Remus who is the symbol of nomadism.

role of the italian city

administrative center of an area and it determines how the government runs, the productivity of an area, and the culture of the region- dictates the region's culture and spreads the food culture. represents a larger agricultural area/political, geographical area. Particular products may be associated with a city. Not necessarily made in the city but traded within the city.

farro

an ancient grain that all ppl in the mediterranean are eating and it is being developed in the neolithic area

bronze age

an increase of: political stability, cultivation of fields, pasturing and breeding of livestock, deforestation (evidence of axes, chisels, and saws)- all of this leads to population growth because of cultural revolution. There was an economic crisis because of a drought and volcanoes/earthquakes that impeded the cultural revolution.

protected by italian law

asiago cheese, piave cheese, bigoli, sopressa, marostica cherries, bassano asparagus, vialone rice producers have to follow certain laws in processing, cultivation, and packaging that guarantees the authenticity of the product

bathhouses

a center for "networking" in the Roman Empire- they were enormous and each room was separated by gender. Lots of people would congregate here and these were places where you could network with wealthy people. Lack of privacy in Rome- the public toilets for example- because of crowded spaces- bathing with other people was normal

fornax

a restaurant with an oven (pizza)

Dr. Ancel Keys

discovered the Mediterranean diet. He led the first large-scale and multi-country study in the field of epidemiology about lifestyle, health, and disease. He started the "seven countries study"- where he studied the diets and lifestyles of people to see how diets correlate with overall health. He was looking at different areas of Italy (north- more fat from butter/dairy vs south- more fat from olive oil). He found neapolitan men (southern italy) that 20 percent total calories from fat ( the classic mediterranean diet) and that bolognese men (northern italy) that 30 percent of total calories from fat. Minnesotan man (who had high heart disease prevalence)- 40 percent of total calories from fat. Out of this huge study, it was found that the mediterranean diet was the healthful one and it was correlated with fewer incidents of cardiovascular disease- he turns his study into a book called Eat Well and Stay Well that is a medical lifestyle recommendation/cookbook and the mediterranean diet is born into popular culture. This study helped establish the popularity of Italian cuisine in the US.

Mediterranean diet

element of italian cuisine that has been placed on UNESCO's "List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity"

authentic italian cuisine

food that was present in agrarian society (preindustrial revolution) and is simple foods, doesn't require a lot of ingredients, and doesn't require a lot of processing

italian identity

formed through the exchange between cities, classes, etc unifies the peninsula.

etruscans

growing what is already in Italy/becoming better at growing what is already in Italy

Julia Felix

had decor of food in her house- she is demonstrating that she values food to the public- food was an important status factor. she also opened her baths for public use. her dining room is much bigger than her living quarters.

Expensive tissue hypothesis

humans have evolved ways of increasing and more efficiently gaining metabolic energy which increased capacity in the nervous system. By cooking (food is predigested more) and use of tools, allowed humans to gain more energy faster so brains could become larger. Agricultural use created humans