The Sweet History of Bee Hives

Once upon a time, in the lush gardens of nature, there existed a creature so vital to the essence of life, connecting to it would become the focus of humanity for ages. 

As a species, humans have been attempting to harness the power of the bees since early BC, and if you look at the timeline, we’ve only gotten better and better at understanding and protecting the honeybees. Ultimately we’ve been able to forge a symbiotic relationship that helps to feed the world - literally. 

Beekeeping dates back to at least 7000 BC, evidenced by ancient rock paintings in Spain showing humans collecting honey from wild bee colonies.

The practice has evolved over millennia, with ancient evidence of structured beekeeping in ancient Egypt around 2400 BC, where bees were kept in man-made hives.

Since then, hives have evolved to be incredibly efficient -  for bees and beekeepers alike. Let’s take a look at the beehive timeline.

Ancient Egypt 2400 BC

Our story begins in the sun-drenched lands of ancient Egypt, where bees were revered as messengers of the gods.

Egyptians were the early pioneers of beekeeping, crafting hives from straw and clay. Honey was more than a delicacy; it was a symbol of wealth, health, and power, used in everything from baking to embalming the dead. 

Type of Hive: Log Hives! Hollowed-out logs suspended from trees or placed on stands, mimicking natural cavities for the bees to explore. Bees enter through holes drilled into the log.

Type of Hive: Clay! Made from clay or mud, shaped into cylinders or cones. Had to be destroyed to access the honeycomb (poor bees!)

The Greek and Roman Influence

Fast forward to ancient Greece and Rome, where the honeybee continued to captivate minds and palates.

Aristotle, the philosopher, studied bees meticulously, marveling at their social structure and productivity. Meanwhile, Romans spread the art of beekeeping across their empire, innovating with wooden hives that resemble those we see today.

Type of Hive: Box Hives! Precursors to modern hives, made from wooden boxes - an improvement over log and clay hives in terms of manageability and ethical beekeeping practices.

Medieval Beekeeping

In medieval Europe, beekeeping became a monastic endeavor. Monasteries were buzzing with activity as monks tended to their hives, harvesting honey to sweeten food and make mead.

Honey was also a valuable trading commodity, symbolizing the sweet life of hard work and devotion.

Type of Hive: Straw Skeps! Cone-shaped baskets woven from straw, with a single opening at the bottom.

The Renaissance Rebirth

The Renaissance brought a renewed interest in the natural world, and with it, advancements in beekeeping.

Books were published on the subject, sharing knowledge and promoting beekeeping as a science.

The invention of the movable comb hive by Lorenzo Langstroth in the 19th century revolutionized beekeeping, allowing for the easy extraction of honey without harming the bees – a method still in use today.

Type of Hive: Langstroth Hives! These hives feature movable frames and are the basis for modern beekeeping. They have a series of wooden frames within a box, allowing bees to build comb in frames that can be easily removed for inspection and honey extraction without harming the colony.

Modern Buzz

From the 20th century until now, more hives have been and continue to be designed to better suit both honeybee and human need. 

 There are Warré Hives, designed by Emile Warré in the 1950s, that are designed to mimic natural bee environments more closely.

They have vertical stacks of boxes, similar to Langstroth, but designed to  more closely mimic natural bee environments. Bees build comb from the top down, with minimal disturbance during inspection or harvesting. 

 Top-Bar Hives, which are simple, and often more sustainable hive designs, use horizontal bars for bees build their comb. It’s very popular in natural beekeeping.

Today, the Savannah Bee Company, along with countless other bee people (beeple) worldwide, continues the tradition of nurturing and protecting these vital pollinators.

Honeybees play a crucial role in our ecosystem, pollinating plants and contributing to biodiversity- and of course, creating and sharing their delicious honey!

A Call to Action

As we revel in the rich history of honeybee hives, let's not forget the challenges bees face today, from habitat loss to pesticides.

The Savannah Bee Company invites you to join in our mission to save the bees, fostering a community united by love for nature and the sweet rewards of beekeeping.

#savethebees