THE BENEFITS OF INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH – A CASE OF STUDYING THE CONSUMPTION OF GREEK WINES IN ROMAN ITALY

Abstract

This paper presents the advantages of an interdisciplinary approach in studying the consumption of Greek wines in Roman Italy. It shows how the research method may influence the obtained results, in some cases even by providing a false picture of reality. For example, the traditional, historical and philological approaches suggest Greek origins of ancient viticulture and winemaking in Italy, dated to the 8th-7th c. BC. However, while applying new, archeobotanical and genetic methods, local beginnings dated to the Bronze Age seem more probable. Literary sources highlight the popularity of high-quality Greek wines in Rome, whereas archaeological evidence proves that middle-quality beverages were statistically more important. Therefore, the image varies depending on the sources and methods applied. Looking from broader, multidisciplinary perspective allows us to verify information, reduce distortions and come closer to reality.