The Spice trade was probably one of the biggest power struggles between European powers in history. There was such a high demand for spices that nations fought with each other in order to gain control of small islands that produced crops of nutmeg, cinnamon, mace, cloves, pepper, ect. Spices had become a food of luxury in Europe after the crusades and accounts Marco Polo's travels opened the door to the East for Western Cultures. During the renaissance it was common for members of the upper class to carry around a thing of nutmeg and a small grater to season their food with. In fact spices became so popular in many countries that shipping industries developed in order to supply people with spices and other eastern commodities.
People went through great obstacles in order to insure that spices were on the market.
Sir Henry Middleton was one of those people sent out to secure spices for the East India Trading Company to sell. In a book titled, The voyage of Sir Henry Middleton to Bantam and the Maluco Islands; being the second voyage set forth by the governor and company of merchants of London trading into the East-Indies, it outlines the great adventures and struggles that Middleton had to go through in order to secure spices. The book tells of Middleton's encounters with the Dutch and the Portuguese, the two trading enemies of England, and of the struggle for the English to secure spices to take back to their country. The voyage even ends with an air of mystery. A ship loaded with spices disappeared off of the coast of South Africa and was never seen again. The disappearing ship was a sort of metaphor or reminder that luxury and wealth come at a price. And if one desired that luxury good they better be willing to pay the price.
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