Page 195 - Terčelj, Dušan. 2015. The Culture of Wine in Slovenia. Edited by Aleš Gačnik. University of Primorska Press, Koper.
P. 195
wine trade
and innkeeping
One of the aims of this book is to acquaint the reader with the appearance of the trade in
wine and with innkeeping in ancient times, as well as with their development in the Middle
Ages and over the last one hundred and fifty years in Slovene lands.
The first written sources from Mesopotamia and Egypt show that wine, in addition to
grains and olive oil, was one of the first goods that man produced with a surplus and used
in exchange for other goods, in particular the newly appearing crafts products. With the
exchange of goods along the caravan routes in the countries of the eastern Mediterranean
inns began to appear, offering accommodation, food and drink to travelling merchants. In
Egypt such hostelries existed as early as 6000 years BC. In Babylonia and Assyria hostelries
could be found in settlements along caravan routes. Hammurabi’s code prohibited innkeep-
ers from mixing water with wine.
At the time of the Mycenaean and Greek cultures hospitality developed first: as described
by Homer around 1000 BC, strangers – mainly merchants – had to be given accommoda-
tion and sustenance free of charge. This was prescribed by towns, which were like small
states. Hospitality developed into bestowing the status of honorary citizens on guests with
permanent trading contacts and special privileges. These ties were thus still more on a
personal, private and diplomatic level. Due to increasing trade, there appeared proxenia,
a kind of consulate, thus establishing the first international official contacts. With the
growing number of merchants and other foreigners and poor folk, cities started to set up
special houses which provided sustenance and accommodation against payment and this
was the true beginning of innkeeping.
191
and innkeeping
One of the aims of this book is to acquaint the reader with the appearance of the trade in
wine and with innkeeping in ancient times, as well as with their development in the Middle
Ages and over the last one hundred and fifty years in Slovene lands.
The first written sources from Mesopotamia and Egypt show that wine, in addition to
grains and olive oil, was one of the first goods that man produced with a surplus and used
in exchange for other goods, in particular the newly appearing crafts products. With the
exchange of goods along the caravan routes in the countries of the eastern Mediterranean
inns began to appear, offering accommodation, food and drink to travelling merchants. In
Egypt such hostelries existed as early as 6000 years BC. In Babylonia and Assyria hostelries
could be found in settlements along caravan routes. Hammurabi’s code prohibited innkeep-
ers from mixing water with wine.
At the time of the Mycenaean and Greek cultures hospitality developed first: as described
by Homer around 1000 BC, strangers – mainly merchants – had to be given accommoda-
tion and sustenance free of charge. This was prescribed by towns, which were like small
states. Hospitality developed into bestowing the status of honorary citizens on guests with
permanent trading contacts and special privileges. These ties were thus still more on a
personal, private and diplomatic level. Due to increasing trade, there appeared proxenia,
a kind of consulate, thus establishing the first international official contacts. With the
growing number of merchants and other foreigners and poor folk, cities started to set up
special houses which provided sustenance and accommodation against payment and this
was the true beginning of innkeeping.
191
