So Let us Be Merry. Wine is Life: An Archaeology of Wine in the Roman World

Wine was a quintessential part of life for members of ancient Roman society. There are countless references to wine in historical texts and archaeology regularly unearths evidence for viticulture throughout the Mediterranean. Yet, certain questions are necessary to consider:

• Why did the Romans drink wine?
• How did they drink wine?
• What types of wine were available?
• Did wine play a role in social divisions within Roman society?

In this lecture, Associate Professor Scott Gallimore will explore these questions and more in evaluating ancient Rome’s obsession with wine.

Lecture Video

Review the lecture transcript.

Further Reading and Resources

Books

• Ancient Wine: The Search for the Origins of Viticulture by Patrick McGovern [available for purchase]

Articles

• Earliest Evidence for Wine found in Georgia [via National Geographic] 

• Traditional Wine-Making in Georgia [via UNESCO]

Videos

• The Oldest Bottle of Wine in the World [via YouTube]

About the Instructor

Scott Gallimore is an associate professor in the Department of Archaeology and Heritage Studies at Wilfrid Laurier University. He is a Roman archaeologist who has worked on numerous archaeological projects in different parts of Greece. In 2017, he was Laurier's recipient of the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance Award for Excellence in Teaching.

About Lifelong Learning at Home

Lifelong Learning at Home is a free weekly series featuring pre-recorded lectures from some well-known Laurier faculty and community experts. Visit the Lifelong Learning at Home section to explore other lectures and to find out more about this limited series offered by the Laurier Association for Lifelong Learning.

Lifelong Learning at Home was created to connect people through lifelong learning during this time of unprecedented challenges. Many Laurier students are experiencing significant financial difficulties as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you are in a position to do so, you can help us support our students by donating to Laurier's COVID-19 Emergency Fund, which provides emergency financial support, health and wellness support and teaching and learning support during this challenging time.