The Pursuit of Spices

Spices have played a very important role in world history and in the development of the western civilization. From empire to empire, ever since Antiquity, spices have been particularly prized possessions. Spices were known to come from the legendary Spice Islands, now known as the Moluccas, of which, for centuries, only the Arabs knew the location. They controlled the spice route and brought spices by caravans or camels to Western Europe where the demand was huge. The Romans later took control of the trade but spices were so expensive that they were only available to the wealthiest people. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the popularity of spices and its trade declined.

A map of the Spice Islands (Moluccas) from 1640

http://libweb5.princeton.edu/visual_materials/maps/websites/pacific/spice-islands/spice-islands-maps.html

During the Middle Ages, Europeans began to desire spices more and more as they rediscovered their flavors during the crusades. Besides, in 1270 Marco Polo explored Asia and brought back memories of fabulous spices. Kings and Queens of Europe then decided to find the source of those precious products. The quest for spices set up a new age of discovery that fundamentally changed world history.

This competition for spices enabled the exploration of the world as well as the establishment of vast empires on both the eastern and western borders of Europe. Both the Spanish and the Portuguese had a great maritime power and wanted to search for the Spice Islands. On the one hand, the Spanish Christopher Columbus went west towards America, and discovered spices such as vanilla and chili peppers. On the other hand, the Portuguese Vasco de Gama sailed around Africa and reached India where he found pepper and later cinnamon in what is now Sri Lanka.

Vasco de Gama's first travel route

http://awhamilton.pbworks.com/w/page/29917352/Vasco%20da%20Gama%20DS%20LS

The Portuguese started building a spice empire and rapidly expanded to the Spice Islands from which great profit came. Consequently important trade networks surfaced inevitably arising the jealousy of other European countries, especially Spain, Holland and England. Wars over the Spice Islands and the East Indies broke out and lasted for about 200 years from the 15^th to the 17^th century. The Dutch who had recently become much more powerful, gained control of the spice trade by the beginning of the 17^th century. The British interest in the spice trade also grew and lead England to fight against the Dutch. Ultimately, England gave up the island Run where nutmeg grew to the Dutch in exchange for other colonies. This is how New Amsterdam became New York, now a major city in the world. Indubitably the British East India Company gained incredible power to the expense of the Dutch East India Company that collapsed at the end of the 18^th century.

Some spices

http://www.gtspice.com/bulk.html

Spices were crucial in the establishment of the world that we know today. They allowed the foundation of significant empires, and the discovery of entire continents. The quest for spices opened the world to trade and globalization. The influence of the spice trade on Europe has now declined, but oil has become very valuable to the western countries and might shape the world just as spices did. 

Relevant sites: 

http://www.livescience.com/7495-spice-trade-changed-world.html

http://begumskitchen.com/SpiceHistory.html

http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/content/spices-how-search-flavors-influenced-our-world

http://theepicentre.com/the-spice-trade-a-taste-of-adventure/