Olive oil in Al-Andalus: production, consumption, and materiality

Abstract

This article examines the production, consumption, and materiality of olive oil in al-Andalus, framing this activity within the debate on proto-industrialization and medieval speculative economies. Through agronomic, medical, and commercial sources, alongside archaeological evidence, it explores the diverse uses of this product (food, medicine, and lighting) and its prominent presence in international trade networks, with a specific focus on exports from the Aljarafe region. The study of the production cycle and the complex infrastructure required, such as oil mills (almazaras), reveals a highly technical activity. This significant economic and infrastructural investment points to production control by high-status socioeconomic groups, demonstrating an agricultural strategy geared toward export and commercial profit that went beyond the traditional peasant economy.