Food and drink culture in the ancient Roman world

Nutrition has an important place in the life of living things. Since the Paleolithic Ages, people's eating habits have been the subject of a wide range of studies. People who feed on weeds and animal foods have started to cook their food with fire. Therefore, various sizes and shapes of cooking utensils have started to be used. Especially in the Neolithic Period when the transition to settled order and agriculture was experienced, the harvested products had to be stored; Besides large storage areas, storage containers have started to be used, cooking and preserving containers have been diversified. In the Roman world, where eating and drinking are important, there is a wide variety of foods, especially Italy. Initially, although the difference between eating and drinking habits in the Roman social classes was not large, differences occurred with the growth of the empire. Vegetables, fruits, wild and domestic animals, various juices, dairy products, olive oil and wine were frequently consumed in central Italy. In addition, bread made from barley and wheat and various bakery products are an important part of the daily diet. Containers made of food, drink, animals and terracotta, metal and glass were often depicted in Roman mosaics and frescos; this kind of archaeological data gives detailed information especially about eating and drinking habits in Italy. Many ancient writers such as Apicius, Athenaeus, Plinius, Columella talked about food and drink, plants and animals. Eating and drinking habits continued in thousands of years, as the Roman Empire spread and became a Roman province politically and spread over a wide area. KEYWORDS: Archaeology, Roman, Anatolia, Kitchen, Culture.