3 ms·
Rome can be considered an early attempt at a "globalized" society - while not strictly global it did bring many different regions and cultures over a very wide
by dTal 5y ago
Rome can be considered an early attempt at a "globalized" society - while not strictly global it did bring many different regions and cultures over a very wide area under one administrative umbrella, and opened the doors of trade. Among other things, that lets you do things like regularly consume dishes that use geographically distant ingredients. You could probably go down to the store and buy all kinds of spices pretty much anywhere in the Roman Empire.
- ingas 5y ago> Among other things, that lets you do things like regularly consume dishes that use geographically distant ingredients. I think that you idealizing ancient Rome. Ice was a delicacy. "Dishes for geographically distant ingredients"? No meat, no fruits, no milk products. So it's only cereals could be imported from long distances.
- 29athrowaway 5y agoSalted or dry meat, dry fruit, cheese.
- dTal 5y agoAh yes, the four food groups. /s I think you're underestimating what could be done with preservation technology such as salting, curing, drying, pickling, fermenting etc. Meats were in fact frequently traded. Salted pork was a staple food. Cheese even more so. And what of liquids? You're surely aware of ancient wrecks filled with amphoras? What was in them? Surely not cereals. Oils, wines, vinegars, acidic sauces such as the famed "garum" - all travel well.