| The rise and fall of ancient empires has | | | | soldiers either confiscated the enemy |
| developed parallel also to the establishment | | | | orchards for their own future use, or they |
| and destruction of advanced fruit tree | | | | destroyed the trees, if they planned to move |
| orchards. Ancient fruit trees such as olive | | | | on to prevent the defeated nations from |
| tree orchards increased the wealth and health | | | | rebuilding agriculturally and to later return |
| of nations by feeding the populations, | | | | as a threat in the future. The Romans fought |
| providing nutritious olive oil to light lamps | | | | the citizens of Carthage in North Africa, |
| in ancient houses at night, as food and a | | | | defeating them many times, only to experience |
| cooking medium, and for the purpose of | | | | a resurgence of Carthage attacks and |
| anointing Kings and Queens. Olive trees | | | | invasions. Finally the Romans destroyed |
| could not produce continuous crops unless the | | | | every building in the city of Carthage, |
| gardeners growing them could provide a | | | | leaving no stone atop another and spread salt |
| secure, peaceful growing environment. The | | | | to poison the agricultural land to prevent |
| original plantings of olive trees were slow | | | | any possible rebuilding, since food could not |
| growing and could not produce a satisfactory | | | | be produced on salt contaminated land.Two |
| crop of fruit, until the trees matured to | | | | centuries later, Israel destroyed 50,000 |
| bear crops in 10 to 15 years. It was well | | | | olive trees in Palestine, also located in |
| known by ancient warrior conquerors and | | | | North Africa like the city of Carthage, to |
| Kings, that hostile nations could be | | | | prevent the Palestinian nation from enjoying |
| neutralized for many years, if the fruit | | | | the fruit and wealth of the olive orchards. |
| orchards were destroyed. The ancient Greek | | | | |