19th Annual Student Research Conference
Interdisciplinary
Agriculture, Viticulture, and Enology of Greece
David G. Chappell
Dr. Steven Reschly and Prof. Martha L. Rose, Faculty Mentors
The most popular image of ancient Greece is the Acropolis towering over the city of Athens, the most powerful and influential city in the ancient Greek world. For Athens to gain power and prestige, however, there had to be a reliable food supply readily available to the city. Without food, there would be no city. The three main crops of ancient Greece comprise what is known as the Holy Agricultural Triad: olives, grapes, and wheat. My research focused on grapes, which were used to press wine, a central component of both ancient and modern Greek cultures. While studying in Greece during May/June 2005, both continuities and dissimilarities were visible in the rural landscape. Despite the abundance of wine in both ancient and modern Greece, for example, only six grape varieties--three red and three white--have scientifically proven ancient lineage. This paper examines Greek wine production in historical context.
Keywords: Agriculture, Viticulture, Enology, Greece, Wine, Classical Studies, Greek History
Topic(s):Study Abroad
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 45-2
Location: OP 2115
Time: 1:30