Wine production in classical Asia Minor

Abstract

Wine consumption was a fundamental and daily part of Greek and Roman civilization, requiring vast quantities of wine production around the classical world. Published studies discuss the evidence for and conclusions about wine production in many classical regions (e.g. Greece, Italy, Gaul, Spain, Tripololitania, Palestine, and Chersonesos Taurike) yet there has been no conclusive study of wine production in classical Asia Minor. Broughton and Magie collated classical literary references to viticulture (grape growing) and viniculture (wine making). Mitchell discussed some evidence for wine production in the central region of Galatia. Various studies of the Aegean coastal islands have discussed wine production on a local scale. Amphora studies have dealt with aspects of dating, origin, and distribution of the vessels possibly related to the storage and transport of wine. The aim of this thesis is to collect the available evidence for wine production in classical Asia Minor and to analyze it on a regional scale, with the attempt to see how production in the region related to production in other classical regions. Viticulture, like all agriculture, is dependant on certain climatic and soil conditions. Chapter 1 discusses the suitability of regions of Asia Minor to grape and wine production. Chapter 2 discusses what types of evidence are appropiate for the study of wine production in classical Asia Minor, given the types used elsewhere and local factors. Decomposition, destruction, sampling, and relevance limit the available literary and archaeological evidence. Chapter 3 collects this evidence and analyzes it by region. Chapter 4 discusses the geographical disribution of wine production sites, and given climatic and geological suitability and demand, where the literary and archaeological evidence may be lacking. Chapter 5 collates the literary and archaeological evidence on the nature of viticulture and viniculture to draw conclusions on local and regional practices and styles. Chapter 6 discusses the chronology of wine production in classical Asia Minor and attempts to fit it into the context of wine production and consumption in the classical world.