ABSTRACT
Human survival is, in every way possible, determined by the logistics of food provisioning. The global food chain comprises one of the largest industries of the modern world, shaping – and being shaped by – economics, politics, and environments. For this reason, understanding the food supply chain of any ancient society reveals insights not only into ancient diet and agriculture, but also into economics and daily activities, social organization and ethics. Prior to the development of the modern industrialized food chain, food production was naturally a matter that consumed a great deal of energy and planning in society in general and in the daily lives of individuals. Maximizing output and minimizing labour within the food chain would undoubtedly have been a matter of great concern. To understand the ways in which food supply chain logistics worked and how food production affected ancient lives, or how it shaped economics and politics, we have to first answer some basic questions. What types of food were available? Where were crops grown or animals reared? How and where were foods processed? Was food transported and/or distributed and if so, how? How much did people eat, and who ate what? Some of these questions are easier to answer than others, but the relationship between potential demand and the logistics of the supply chain to meet that demand is key to them all.
