Italy is blessed above all the other countries of central Europe with the natural conditions that go to yield an abundant and varied supply of food. The soil is rich...the rainfall is abundant, and rivers and smaller streams are numerous" (Johnston 203). In the ancient Roman world, A wide variety of fruits and vegetables were grown both in the rural setting and also in city gardens. According to Florence Dupont, gardens "were productive all year …showed first 75 words of 449 total…

…showed last 75 words of 449 total…Empire, the variety of foods available (at least to those able to afford imported goods) increased. Growth from rural beginnings into an extensive Empire demanded more and more grain to feed the burgeoning population. Much grain was imported then, from the provinces and territories, including Egypt, the "breadbasket" of the ancient world. Other imported foods included spices from Northern Africa, wild animals from Spain, wine from various areas, oysters from Britain, and honey from Greece.