Olive is the one of the first cultivated plant in the history. It is known that olives first cultivated in the Eastern part of the Mediterranean (Hatay, a city in the southern Turkey, Syria, and Lebanon). Babylon and Assyrian civilizations in the Mesopotamia knew olive and used it as valuable trade commodity. A clay bowl used to make olive oil, which is dated 3000 B.C., was found in Urla, a small town in İzmir/Turkey.

 

Romans used olive oil not only in cooking but also in skin care, and in treatments of some diseases. Romans had spread olive cultivation and invented “Screw Press” used in olive oil production.The ancient Greeks played an important role spreading olive oil cultures from Mediterranean to other cultures.

Olive oil had been an important commodity since ancient history. In the fifteen century, Spanish brought olive trees to America. Olive cultivation eventually spread to Australia, Southern Africa, Chine and other regions where climate and soil condition are suitable for olive trees.