Since the beginning of ancient time, spices have been used throughout Asia, Arabia, and the Mediterranean region. Treasured by our ancestors and valued as highly as gold, spices have played a dramatic role in the development of Western civilization. Many countries tried to win control over the production of them by setting sail to try and discover new sea routes to the East. For centuries men risked their lives, fought wars, and discovered new worlds for the control of the spice trade
The earliest recorded use of spice comes from an Assyrian myth that claims that the gods drank sesame wine the night before they created the earth. Hieroglyphics in the Great Pyramid at Giza, showing the eating of garlic and onions for strength, is the first real evidence of spice use. In the Bible spices are mentioned frequently as a valuable commodity.
From 300 BC, the people of the Mediterranean were the first ones to trade for spices. Spices and precious stones were taken from the Far East overland by donkey and then by camel caravan along the Incense Route. This trail led from South Arabia along the Arabian Coast, then north via Mecca to Egypt and Syria. An extensive spice trade route developed stretching across the deserts of southern Asia and the Middle East between kingdoms. Several routes were developed and used to bring spices from the East. The oldest sea route was said to be from Malabar coast of India, up the Persian Gulf, and then either via the Tigris and Euphrates valleys to Babylon and Antioch or around the coast of Arabia and up the Red Sea.
As the Roman empire grew to dominance they started sailing from India to Egypt to trade spices. The voyage took two years across the Indian Ocean to get pepper, cloves, nutmeg, ginger and cinnamon. Realizing that the changing winds of the monsoon, traders began to take advantage of the winds to shorten their voyage to less than a year. The Romans soon became users of spices for perfumes, medicines, cooking, and cosmetics. In the Middle Ages, Europeans made such a demand for spices that prices soared. The demand for spice was the key to expand the world trade. China, India, and the Indonesian islands were home of the worlds most valuable spices. Marco Polo’s exploration of Asia during the 13th century established Venice as an important trade port. The prices were so high that the Spanish and Portuguese began to search for new routes. In 1492, when Christopher Columbus could not interest Portugal’s King in the possibility of a western route to the Spice Island, he enlisted the help of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain. His voyage of discovery under the Spanish flag did not lead to him to the Spice Islands, but to America.
Between the 15th and 17th century wars broke out between Spain, Portugal, England and Holland over the control of Spice Islands. Holland, proving themselves superior in military and naval strength, gained control of shipping and trading in northern Europe. By the beginning of the 19th century Holland no longer controlled the spice industry. The Orient and America had now entered the spice trade.
America entered into the spice trade in 1672. Many ships sailed to the East carrying supplies to trade for tea, coffee, textiles, and spices. Many voyages proved to be very successful and profitable. Over the next 90 years nearly one thousand American ships made voyage. Now the United States is the largest importer of spices in the world and India is the largest in exporting.
For centuries, spices have played an important role in national economies, they had the power to provoke wars, to build and destroy empires, and to influence the course of history. Spices have had a changing role during the accounts of history. From being regarded as the most expensive items, to now being accepted as a key ingredient in the kitchen and used as part of our daily lives.
Back to TopCloves were introduced here in 1818, and flourished in the tropical climate and fertile soil of the western areas of both Zanzibar and Pemba. By the middle of the century, the Zanzibar archipelago was the world's largest producer of cloves, and the largest slave trading centre on the East African coast. Slaves were used for the cultivation and harvesting of cloves, and the Sultan occupied so many plots that by his death in 1856, he had 45 plantations. Plots were also acquired by his children, and many concubines and eunuchs from the royal harem. Over time, several other spices such as cinnamon, cumin, ginger, pepper and cardamom were introduced. Their rich fragrance became synonymous with Zanzibar, which became known as the 'Spice Islands'.
The Explorers
Zanzibar was the starting point for the great European adventurers who tried to map the interior. Most followed the long-established caravan routes before reaching territory unknown even to the traders. The dangers were significant for these first Europeans in East Africa's interior - for them, a strange and unexplored land.