Spice trade

Quick Facts: Who was Spice trade?

Subject:

Spice trade

Known for:

Ancient global commerce network involving spices, connecting Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The spice trade involved historical civilizations in Asia, Northeast Africa and Europe. Spices, such as cinnamon, cassia, cardamom, ginger, pepper, nutmeg, star anise, clove, and turmeric, were known and used in antiquity and traded in the Eastern world. These spices found their way into the Near East before the beginning of the Christian era, with fantastic tales hiding their true sources. The maritime aspect of the trade was dominated by the Austronesian peoples in Southeast Asia, namely the ancient Indonesian sailors who established routes from Southeast Asia to Sri Lanka and India, and later China, by 1500 BC. These goods were then transported by land toward the Mediterranean and the Greco-Roman world via the incense route and the Roman–India routes by India and Persia traders.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

The Austronesian maritime trade lanes later expanded into the Middle East and East Africa by the 1st millennium AD, resulting in the Austronesian colonization of Madagascar. Within specific regions, Somalia (5th century BC – 11th century AD) had pioneered the Red Sea route before the 1st century AD. During the first millennium AD, Somalis became the maritime trading power of the Red Sea. By this period, trade routes existed from Sri Lanka (the Roman Taprobane) and India, which had acquired maritime technology from early Austronesian contact. By the mid-7th century AD, after the rise of Islam, Arab traders started plying these maritime routes and dominated the western Indian Ocean maritime routes.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Arab traders eventually took over conveying goods via the Levant and Venetian merchants to Europe until the rise of the Seljuk Turks in 1090. Later the Ottoman Turks held the route again by 1453. Overland routes helped the spice trade initially, but maritime trade routes led to tremendous growth in commercial activities to Europe. The trade was changed by the Crusades and later the European Age of Discovery, during which the spice trade, particularly in black pepper, became an influential activity for European traders. From the 11th to the 15th centuries, the Italian maritime republics of Venice and Genoa monopolized the trade between Europe and Asia.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1090: 1090 Milestone — Arab traders eventually took over conveying goods via the Levant and Venetian merchants to Europe until the rise of the Seljuk Turks in 1090.
2. 1453: 1453 Milestone — Later the Ottoman Turks held the route again by 1453.
3. 1500: 1500 Milestone — The maritime aspect of the trade was dominated by the Austronesian peoples in Southeast Asia, namely the ancient Indonesian sailors who established routes from Southeast Asia to Sri Lanka and India, and later China, by 1500 BC.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Spice trade

True or False: “The initial maritime trade network in the Indian Ocean was established by the Austronesian peoples around 1500 BC.”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): The text explicitly states that the Austronesian peoples established trade routes with South India and Sri Lanka from around 1500 BC to 600 BC.

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• Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester — Historical peer (Born in 1090) (1090): Illegitimate son of Henry I, key military figure in the Anarchy.
• Afonso de Albuquerque — Historical peer (Born in 1453) (1453): Portuguese general and conquistador who built the Asian Portuguese Empire.
• Andreas Palaiologos — Historical peer (Born in 1453) (1453): Eldest son of Thomas Palaiologos, claimant to the Byzantine imperial throne.

Frequently Asked Questions about Spice trade