KomÃ¡rno in Slovakia is an inland port on the Danube River which is an important international waterway. Several international treaties have established freedom of navigation on semi-enclosed seas. The Copenhagen Convention of 1857 opened access to the Baltic by abolishing the Sound Dues and making the Danish Straits an international waterway free to all commercial and military shipping.
The expansion of cocoa in Europe (17th - 19th centuries) During the 17th century, cocoa began arriving in other ports throughout Europe, effortlessly conquering every region's palate. Chocolate beverages were first embraced by the French court following the royal marriage of King Louis XIII to the Spanish Princess Anne of Austria in 1615.
lzf/iStock/Getty Images. Chocolate has its origins as a cocoa nib-infused drink used in Mesoamerican rituals as early as 1750 B.C. By the time Europeans discovered the region in 16th century, the cocoa seed was a fixture in the cultureâs spirituality, nutrition and financial trade as cocoa nibs were used as currency.zf/iStock/Getty Images. Chocolate has its origins as a cocoa nib-infused drink used in Mesoamerican rituals as early as 1750 B.C. By the time Europeans discovered the region in 16th century, the cocoa seed was a fixture in the cultureâs spirituality, nutrition and financial trade as cocoa nibs were used as currency.