Spices such as pepper, nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon were most sought products many years ago. Nations were made to cross huge oceans in search of new routes to locate the spices. Spice traders were made wealthy across the world. Spices also led to the development of huge empires as well tipped the global power balance. Prior to 15 th century, spices were a substantial part of the ancient business but North African and Middle Eastern middlemen dominated it and it made them rich ( Robins, 2017). Back then food was flavored using colorful grains. The colorful grains were also used for preserving the dead, making perfume, making traditional medicines and preservation of meat.
Europe did not have access to resources and power to trade with high prices. This made Europe hang at the end of the spice trade. In Europe, one pound of nutmeg was worth seven fattened herd when tariffs were highest in the 1300s. This was more prized product than gold. The government which was highest spice consumer started having difficulties in affording clove and peppercorn shipment. By 1400s the nautical equipment improved and enabled long distance sailing. European administration was determined to change the global trade balance by financing missions for hunting spices.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
According to Bernstein (2009), Christopher Columbus was the first to seek for a speedy Indian route but instead got into America. Portugal and Spain dueled for cloves in the 16 th century while Dutch and England fought for nutmeg. Run, a small island was the most valuable in the 1600s since it was crowded with nutmeg trees. After England surrendered to the Netherlands in an agreement to put antagonism between them to an end. The Netherlands exchanged various territories including Manhattan in place of Run. According to Bernstein (2009), Europeans formed a circle in Indian Ocean which brought about huge wealth to them. This brought about the start of globalization.
References
Bernstein, W. J. (2009). A splendid exchange: How trade shaped the world . Grove/Atlantic, Inc.
Robins, N. (2017). The corporation that changed the world: how the East India Company shaped the modern multinational . Pluto Press.
