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