The origin of the olive tree is located in Asia Minor about six millennia ago and spread throughout the Mediterranean Basin to Southern Italy. The Romans expand olive cultivation when they arrived in North Africa and continue the expansion of the olive tree by the coastal countries of the Mediterranean.
The cultivation of olive tree outside the Mediterranean, in Spain, occurred during the maritime domination of the Phoenicians (1050 BC), however, it was not at that time when the cultivation of the plant had so much development, and it reached its maximum development with arrival of Scipio and the domination of Rome.
Around the world
In some North African countries cultivation of olive tree was developed as a strategic tool for the settlement of the Indians at that time, since in ancient times the Getulos plundered fields to meet their food needs.
On the other hand, when we talk about southern Spain, it is referred to that the Arabs were the ones who introduced the development of the crop with its different varieties of species in each place they reached and influenced in such a way the development of this tree that the terms for olive and olive oil they have Arabic roots.
Cultivation of olive tree in America
In relation to America, the cultivation of olive tree develops after the discovery of that continent in 1492. The main areas that were influenced for the development of the olive tree were what are now known as Mexico, Peru, the United States, Chile and Argentina.
At present, olive cultivation has expanded beyond the Mediterranean, with great magnitude in some countries far from their area of origin such as the South African Region, Japan and China. The development of the cultivation of this plant was developed by the benefits of the consumption of its fruits and by the use of its leaves in medicinal products.
