Robertsons Herbs And Spices Unclaimed

The history of the spice trade dates back many centuries. The Scriptures contain references to spices in 1440 Before Christ of Ishmaelite merchants bearing spices on their way to Egypt. At the end of the sixth century, a prophet was born in Mecca. He later married a rich widow whose wealth came from the spice trade, and thereafter for several hundreds of years the Arabs were the masters of the lucrative, but dangerous spice trade, keeping secret the sources from where they came. Despite the incredible demand for spices in Europe, it wasn’t until Marco Polo ventured to the Far East that European merchants realized that these mysterious lands, which harboured the great riches of spices, could be reached by ship. It was during this period that spices made their most important contribution to history. They lured men like Christopher Columbus into trying to find a sea route to the East and by sailing Westward, he eventually discovered South America. Magellan attempted to sail around the world and Bartholomew Diaz was sent by the Portuguese to find a roué to the East around Africa, and in 1488 discovered The Cape of Good Hope (the Cape of Storms). Ten years later Vasco da Gama rounded the Cape and sailed to the East. Holland then sent Jan van Riebeeck out to establish a half-way station for the Dutch east India Company in the Cape, where he landed in 1652 and founded Cape Town. Through nearly four centuries, the major powers raced each other to the Orient and vied for control of the spice producing lands. Hence spices were gradually absorbed into the traditions and culinary delights of our daily life.

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