Honey Basics

Unveiling Honey's Heritage: A Timeline of Honey in Human History

Krista Bugden

Published at: April 9, 2024
Updated at: February 27, 2025

5 minutes

Executive Summary:

Honey has been valued for thousands of years and has played a vital role in the medicines, religious practices, and trade of ancient civilizations.
Beekeeping grew due to the increased trade and demand for honey and wax across Europe during the Middle Ages.
Modern science confirms that the nutrients in honey support general health and well-being due to their antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties.
The global honey market is established and growing and contributes significantly to the economy of many countries.
Consumers can benefit from honey’s natural goodness and ensure its ongoing legacy by selecting honey products that are sustainably sourced, ethically farmed, and unprocessed.

Honey's Historical Timeline: Unveiling Its Global Heritage

From its ancient significance as a food of the gods to its charming role in the classic stories of Winnie the Pooh, honey has been celebrated, sought after, and enjoyed for thousands of years. This golden liquid has cultural, historical, and medicinal ties—many of which are still being explored today.

So, let’s take a closer look at how honey has been used—and enjoyed—throughout history to support healthy balanced lifestyles.

Honey in Ancient Civilizations

Honey and honey collection has been valued for thousands of years. 10,000-year-old cave paintings in Spain depict honey gatherers risking their lives by climbing to great heights to gather the sweet nectar. The passionate quest and hunt for honey led to the first beekeeping practices.

The ancient civilizations of Egypt, Greece, Rome, and Asia have also left evidence of honey’s significant role in their diet, medicine, and rituals.

Honey in Ancient Egypt

Over 2000 years ago in Egypt, honey was used to sweeten dishes but it was also the most popular ingredient in Egyptian medicines—it appears 500 times out of 900 remedies! Its natural antibacterial properties also made it a valuable ingredient in the mummification process. Considered eternal and precious, it was offered as a sacrifice to the gods and is often discovered in the tombs of pharaohs (surprisingly, still edible!).

Honey in Ancient Greece

Named Ambrosia, honey was considered the food of the Gods in Ancient Greece. Later, the philosopher Aristotle claimed that honey prolonged life. The Greek physician and The Father of Modern Medicine Hippocrates also praised honey for its role in supporting overall health and recommended it as an addition to any diet.

Honey in Ancient Rome

In ancient Rome, honey was considered a precious trading commodity—you could even pay taxes with it. Pedanius Dioscorides, a Roman surgeon, recorded numerous medicinal uses of honey, including its support of gut health, its antibacterial properties, and how it promoted comfortable throats in coughing patients.

The Middle Ages to the Renaissance

In medieval times (500 - 1500 AD), honey remained the primary source of sweetener across Europe—before the establishment of the sugar trade. Beekeeping, rooted in ancient civilizations like Egypt, Rome, and China, grew to be well-established due to the demand for both honey and wax across Europe.

Written records indicate that honey was regarded as a significant support of health and wellness in the 1600s, at the end of the Dark Ages. Its antibacterial properties, supportive role in gut health, and soothing properties made it a valuable ingredient in ointments, tinctures, and other traditional remedies.

Today, we enjoy the same beneficial properties of authentic honey, as its significance and medicinal value continue to shine. Mentioned in various religious texts—always as a symbol of health and abundance—honey was and is still culturally significant.

Honey in the Modern World

As the demand for honey grew over the centuries, so did the sophistication and understanding of beekeeping. Now, thanks to science and technology, so much more is understood about honey and what makes it special—besides its delicious flavor, of course.

The global demand for honey has led to well-established and advanced beekeeping practices. These include sophisticated frames, movable hives, easier monitoring, fewer diseases, and greater production. Unfortunately, industrialization has also led to additional processing, like heat treatment, which degrades the beneficial nutrients present in raw honey.

Thanks to science and technology, the unique and beneficial nutrients and properties of honey are quantified and confirmed. Today, scientists introduce honey into bacteria samples, conduct trials, and witness what ancient civilizations learned from experience. Honey, in its natural form, contains nutrients that give it antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. This evidence is helping scientists and doctors reintroduce honey into the medical field.

The Cultural and Economic Impact of Honey Today

Though no longer used as an ingredient in mummification, honey remains culturally significant—especially for those who follow the religious writings that esteem it. Today, honey still features in traditional Chinese medicine and is growing in popularity as a health food globally.

The global honey market contributes substantially to the economy and is expected to grow to a value of USD 12.9 billion by 2030. India is home to the highest number of hives, while China is the biggest exporter of honey. Niche honey markets, like Manuka honey, also support the local economy of New Zealand and some parts of Australia.

However, there are several challenges facing the honey market today. As the global demand for honey continues to rise—due to its proven beneficial nutrients—so do the instances of honey fraud and adulteration. These practices damage the market for authentic honey by driving down the prices. As a result, traditional beekeepers are fighting hard to stay in business.

Global development is also impacting the natural habitat crucial to the survival of the honey bees and the production of honey. The need for sustainable beekeeping has never been more apparent.

Honey: A Legacy that Endures

Honey’s benefits and significance have remained unchanged for 10,000 years—the same honey that was hunted, celebrated, sacrificed, and blended into mysterious remedies is available to you today. Thanks to modern science, you can appreciate its powerful nutrients and enjoy its numerous benefits as part of a healthy lifestyle.

Indulge in the timeless legacy of authentic honey—as little as a teaspoon a day supports your general well-being and provides a healthy source of energy, not to mention deliciousness. Opt for honey that is genuine, sustainably sourced, and unprocessed, and you, too, can enjoy the food of the gods!