For those interested in spices, this book tells of their many
uses and the history of their trade over a period of more than
2000 years. It follows the Silk Road across Central Asia and the
Spice Route over the Indian Ocean and describes how the spice
trade into Europe came to be dominated by Middle Eastern and
Venetian merchants. Clove and nutmeg trees are indigenous to a
few tiny islands located in the eastern part of the Indonesian
archipelago, known as the Spice Islands. From the beginnings of
recorded history these exotic spices were traded halfway around
the world, which meant that when these simple buds and seeds
reached Europe they were said to be worth their weight in gold.
Backed by the Crowns of Portugal and Spain, it was the dream of
explorers such as Christopher Columbus, Vasco da Gama and
Ferdinand Magellan to capture the spice trade by sailing
directly to the Indies and the Spice Islands, driving the
maritime exploration of the world known as ‘The Age of
Discovery’. The story also revolves arou