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[[File: Honey-main.jpg|thumbnail|left|320px|Honey]]
Honey is probably one of the most ancient sweeteners used by humans. Additionally, it was probably consumed not only by us <i>Homo sapiens sapiens</i> , humans, but Neanderthals (<i>Homo sapiens neanderthalensis</i>). In fact, very likely honey played a role in the evolution of the human desire and taste for sweet food products. Honey has played an important role not only in food consumption but also in medicine and even embalming in burial. Its prevalence in the New and Old Worlds have also made it widespread in use even in early prehistoric periods.
==Early Use==
In the Roman period, honey keeping was a mass industry that spread throughout Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Pliny mentions beekeeping in various parts of the empire and artificial large slabs would be used to collect the honey made by bees, where the honey was then applied to a variety of food products, such as cakes, mostly as a sweetener.<ref>For more on the industry of honey in the Roman period, see: Carne 2009: 208</ref>
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In the Medieval period and early modern period (Figure 2), honey continued to be cultivated for its healing and medicinal use as well as for sweetening food. Wax was just as important to Medieval Europe as honey collection, where candles were mostly made. This made beekeeping a very important profession that allowed beekeepers and owners to develop substantial wealth relative to other professions. Wax was also used for seals and sealing documents, particularly official documents relaying important church business or royal edicts.<ref>For more on Medieval production of honey, see: Adamson, M. W. (2004). Food in medieval times. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, pg. 27.</ref>
