The chequered history of Malabar is interspersed with the exotic story of spices - a fragrant journey that, at once, traverses through land and sea, deserts and mountains, plains and ravines, touching various parts of the world. Spices produced in Malabar coast, the geographical entity today known as Kerala, helped connect several countries as transit points and areas of consumption. A historical approach is attempted here to trace the roots of the legendary Spice Route that changed the very course of history. Not only did it lead to the discovery of a direct sea route from the West to India, these aromatic spices also helped disperse the rich culture of several countries along its way. In time, the quest for spices paved the way for the rise of colonial and imperial rule in Asia in general, and India, in particular.
Kerala and the Spice Routes: A Historical Approach deals with the various routes through which spices were taken to di erent parts of the world and the dynamics of the trade in spices. Mercantile activities of the Romans, Chinese, Arabs, Portuguese, English, Dutch, the French and the Danes involved in spice trade, details about the building of vessels for the spice routes, life aboard these ships, financiers of the trade, production and sale of spices are all discussed here in detail. Although the geographical delineations of yesteryears has since changed and many places have altogether vanished from the world map, historians and archaeologists have succeeded in putting together the lost world of the ancient. Spice route is book is an attempt to help understand and undertake a journey along the historical spice routes to relive the glorious past.
Kerala and the Spice Routes: A Historical Approach deals with the various routes through which spices were taken to di erent parts of the world and the dynamics of the trade in spices. Mercantile activities of the Romans, Chinese, Arabs, Portuguese, English, Dutch, the French and the Danes involved in spice trade, details about the building of vessels for the spice routes, life aboard these ships, financiers of the trade, production and sale of spices are all discussed here in detail. Although the geographical delineations of yesteryears has since changed and many places have altogether vanished from the world map, historians and archaeologists have succeeded in putting together the lost world of the ancient. Spice route is book is an attempt to help understand and undertake a journey along the historical spice routes to relive the glorious past.
