Why were Asian spices in the 1300s so expensive by the time they reached Europe?

Answer 1

Because they had to come from Asia. There were no airplanes, there were no large ships or even sea routes in existance. The only method of transport was the long route, the 'Silk Road' across the continent of Asia and then Europe. Even a few ounces took months to traverse the distance at immense cost.

Answer 2

The rise of the ottoman empire blocked traditional trade routes overland through Asia (the silk road). While the ottomans were at war with christian kingdoms goods like spices and silk essentially stopped in turkey instead of continuing onwards to Venice. The increased rarity of these goods probably increased their price as well.

Also, kingdoms along the silk road would often charge a tithe or tax upon merchants travelling through their land. Merchants would charge extra for their goods to compensate for these losses.

Nomadic raiders also plauged these routes, and the increased risk discouraged all but the most determined merchants.

This was also one of the major incentive for the age of exploration, that is, to find a waterway to Asia in order to avoid the dangerous overland route.

Answer 3

They came a long way and passed through many hands

Answer 4

It was extremely dangerous to get there by land or sea, so the spices were rare and in great demand in the West

Answer 5

They came a long way and passed through many hands.

Answer 6

Because they were so hard to get. It took months to get from Asia to Europe, and many sailors died along the way.

NovaNet: They came a long way and passed through many hands.