An Edible History of Humanity

Spices occupy a highly influential space in the history of trade and international relations. Greek and Roman writers, in describing spices like cinnamon, frankincense, and pepper, invented fantastical origins. The tall tales surrounding spices came from the Arab traders who transported products across the desert, concealing their sources from customers in the Mediterranean. The fanciful lore surrounding the spices and their obscurity made it possible for Arab traders to demand high sums for their products. The Latin origin for the English word “spice” also makes up the root word for “special,” associating spices with luxury. Roman documents from the fifth century reveal that spices were traded alongside other high market goods, including ivory, silk, and animals such as lions and leopards.

Standage proposes that spices played a key role in reshaping the world by enticing European colonists to expand their trading empires and build a comprehensive understanding of global geography. Europeans were eager to trade with India but struggled to find a direct route, as Arab merchants monopolized the Arabian Peninsula. It was new knowledge of sea routes that gave Alexandrian and Roman soldiers a direct line to trading with India and China. Many were critical of the increase in trade.