Europeans did not have direct access to them.
Because they grew and were produced a long way from Europe, and shipping was slow, hazardous and expensive.
The ancient Europeans used spices to preserve food and add flavor to the bland foods.
Spices are expensive in tudor times. If you are poor and you want to eat spices you need to grow it in your garden.
The most expensive food items in general were spices. Of the spices, the most expensive was saffron.
Spices.
For spices
what are the most espensive spices of the world
Spices
For spices
Spices and silk
Spices
They went west