The olive is one of the oldest cultivated crops known to man and is still widely grown in the Mediterranean. An olive tree can have a life expectancy of 500 years and is hearty enough to grow back if ever chopped to the ground. The foliage has a gray tint, offsetting it from its other evergreen relatives. It takes up to four years before the olive tree is mature enough to bear fruit.

Geography
The Mediterranean region is the perfect climate for olive tree cultivation. Olive trees originated in the Mediterranean region. It is characterized by abundant sunshine year-round and hot, dry summers with an average temperature of 80 degrees Fahrenheit. In the winter, it rarely drops below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Along with olives, citrus fruits thrive in Mediterranean climates. Mediterranean-like climates include areas in California, South Africa, and Chile.

Domestication
Olive trees were first cultivated by humans around 4000 BC in an area known as the Fertile Crescent. Before desertification, countries such as modern-day Turkey and Iraq had a lush environment with fertile soil. Archaeological findings suggest that farming began in the Fertile Crescent before 7000 BC, making it one of the first sites of intentional food production. Instead of living as hunter-gatherers, these early humans settled down and harvested native plants. They tended and selected choice olive trees that produced larger and oilier olives than the wild trees.

Migration
Olives and olive oil became valuable trade items between societies and civilizations. Migrants and traders from the Fertile Crescent introduced olive oil to Syria and Crete, which spread onward to Egypt, Greece, and Rome. It continued to migrate westward until olive trees were first introduced to California sometime between 1769 and 1785.

Religious Significance
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all originated in the same region where the olive tree was first cultivated. The olive tree and olive oil have important symbolism in each religion. In Christianity, a dove brought an olive branch to Noah as a symbol of peace and new life after God flooded the Earth. The Prophet Muhammad suggested the use of olive oil for medicinal purposes and massage. Hebrew kings David and Solomon had olive trees planted in Jerusalem’s gardens.

Uses and Benefits
Olive oil has medicinal benefits. Olive oil has been used for internal and external health benefits. It is a skin moisturizer and can help ease swollen gums for babies. Regular intake of olive oil can reduce the risk of rectal cancers. It was used during the Spanish Civil War from1808 to 1813 to treat cases of fever. In 1960, oleuropein was extracted from olive leaves, which helps with food poisoning.