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> But I was taught Europeans didn't covet Indian spices until way later. Why? What use does that narrative have? Because spices were a major driver for Europea
by rippercushions 4y ago
> But I was taught Europeans didn't covet Indian spices until way later. Why? What use does that narrative have?
Because spices were a major driver for European colonialism in Asia from the 1600s onwards (East India Company, VOC, etc), but they did not significantly influence British, Dutch, etc history before that.
- adastra22 4y agoThe Silk Road was a real and vibrant thing in Roman times.
- rippercushions 4y agoOf course it was, but it wasn't controlled by the Romans, so it features less in European history.
- nl 4y agoVenice became rich mostly on the spice trade much earlier than this[1]. But it is true that demand for these spices drove exploration. But the 1600s was too early for colonialism in most areas where the spice trade was vibrant until another 150 years. [1] https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/spice-trade-pepper-venice-180956856/ https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/spice-trade-pepper-ven...