Ancient times and influences: Italy
Archaeological evidence found throughout Italy and Sicily shows evidence of human activity dating back to the Paleolithic period but more interestingly, proves that by the beginning of the Neolithic period c. 2400 B.C. the earlier communities of hunter gatherers had been replaced by agricultural and pastoral settlements. These peoples grew crops and bred livestock for food. Latin's settled in the surround areas of Rome around 1000 BC. They kept pigs, herded sheep, goats, and cattle and lived in primitive huts. By 700 BC, the Etruscans, thought to have come from Lydia (now Turkey), had invaded and settled central Italy. It is known that they grew cereals such as barley and rye, from which they extracted "puls" the ancestor of today's bread. Garlic, onions and herbs such as rosemary and bay leaves were popular seasonings in Etruscan cooking and other vegetables consumed included. Etruscans grew many fruit and vegetables such as black-eyed peas, fava beans, legumes, pomegranates, figs, grapes and small melons. Many domestic animals were raised for food including beef, pigs, chickens, ducks, geese, goats and sheep. They made cheese from the milk of cows and pigs. As well as farmed animals, there was an abundance of wild game in the forests of the north: hare, deer and wild boar were all on the menu as well fish from the rivers, the lakes and the sea. The Greeks invaded southern parts of Italy and established colonies on the southern coast as early as the 500 BC. They continued settling colonies in the south for the next two centuries, bringing with them more developed agricultural methods. Fish and seafood were widely eaten in the south ate this time, with meat being less common in the diet, although goats and sheep were in abundance, and some forms of cheeses were made, probably an early form of ricotta. These basic cheeses developed into Pecorino and Caciocavallo. It is also believed that the Greeks utilized the wild thistles growing in the area, which are cultivated today: artichokes. Food and its preparation was a very important part of the culture of the Roman empire (31BC to the 476AD) and the only surviving cookery book from the Classical period is Roman; Apicius de re Coquinaria, the oldest known cookbook in existence written by a Roman gourmet, Apicius Born 25 B.C. who lived in the first century BC. Around 568AD The Lombards, who were of Germanic origin, started to settle in the north of Italy. These northern Europeans also brought their cuisine with them, which was reflected in the more hearty cuisine. However, it was the Saracens (Arabs from North African) invasion of Sicily in the early 800’sAD, who brought culinary traditions, which would affect not only Sicily, but subsequently much of Italy’s cooking. Not only did they introduce more sophisticated methods of irrigation, which made vegetable farming easier, but they also introduced new produce such as peaches, melons, dates, rice, sugar cane, raisins, oranges, and lemons, as well as spices like clove, cinnamon, and saffron The most important Arab import was pasta. Although some may still question this, many scholars now agree that it probably was the Arabs who introduced dried pasta to Italy, which was an easily portable staple. The Arabs also introduced rice and cous-cous dishes. It was during the renaissance period, that Italian cuisine profoundly influenced cooking and eating throughout Europe. Most notably in 1533, when Catherine de Médicis married the future Henry II of France who took to her personal cooks and pastry makers to the French Court, who set the foundations of haute cuisine. They were also responsible for changing the way food was served, in particular the serving of various “courses”. Also in the 16th century, the Spanish introduced one of the most important ingredients in Italian cooking. The tomato. However it was only in the eighteenth century that it took pride of place in the everyday Italian the kitchen. |
