Olive grove, Valle d'Itria, Puglia, Italy

Olive trees were first cultivated in the eastern Mediterranean around 8,000 years ago. From there, they were spread to the Greek islands and mainland by the Phoenicians, then further afield, reaching Spain and the western edge of the Mediterranean by around 1000 BCE. The olive branch has been a symbol of peace since ancient times and olive trees have been grown for their oil, wood and fruit for millennia.
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