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๐พ Agriculture & Crops
Spice Trade & History
Spices drove global exploration; Columbus, Vasco da Gama and Magellan all sailed in search of them
India/Portugal ๐ 1498 Agriculture & Crops
Key Facts
- 1
India was the spice capital of the ancient world โ pepper, cardamom, turmeric, cinnamon all from Asia
- 2
Vasco da Gama (1498) found the sea route to India's Malabar Coast โ ended Arab spice trade monopoly
- 3
Spice Islands (Maluku, Indonesia) drove European colonisation; nutmeg was once worth more than gold
๐ Did you know? Black pepper was so valuable in medieval Europe it was used as currency to pay taxes and rent
Quick Reference
Category
Agriculture & Crops
Origin
๐ India/Portugal
Year / Era
1498
About
Spices drove global exploration