History and Natural History of Spices

The dramatic search for spices through history, and how the pursuit of rare flavors changed and opened up our world

Spices have been highly valued since at least the Bronze Age, with the so-called Spice Trade, spanning Asia to the Mediterranean, developing from the late centuries BC. By the first century AD, Roman society spent vast sums fueling their demand for spices, importing black pepper from India and other exotics from further afield. Importing spices from the east was a daunting and dangerous task, whether by ship across the Indian Ocean, a perilous round journey of many months, or by caravan overland along the myriad routings of the Silk Road, or other trade routes. The search for spices in the 15th and 16th centuries led to Columbus' discovery of America (and the discovery of chili in Cuba and Hispaniola); Vasco da Gama's proving of the route to India around the coast of Africa; and Magellan's discovery of the western route to the Spice Islands.

This comprehensive book both reviews spices and their histories of uses, botanical descriptions and classifications, as well as delving into the trade routes and importance of spice through history in driving global events.