Olive oil was discovered and began to be used thousands of years ago by the Phoenicians, Greeks, and Romans. This tree crop of the Mediterranean Basin is a common ingredient in ancient Greek and Roman cuisine. But not only was it used in food but olive oil has been used for religious rituals, medicines, as a fuel in oil lamps, soap-making, and skin care. It was even thought to be a great use in birth control. Although the modern olive tree was thought to have originated in ancient Persia and Mesopotamia. The olive tree reached Greece, Carthage and Libya sometime in the 28th century BC. The production of olive oil is assumed to have started before 4000 BC. Olive trees were introduced to the Americas in the 16th century AD when cultivation began in areas that enjoyed a climate similar to the Mediterranean such as Chile, Argentina and California. Currently, The top five producers of olive oil by volume are Spain, Morocco, Turkey, Greece, and Italy. However, per capita national consumption is highest in Greece, followed by Spain and Italy.