European powers took over the spice trade primarily through exploration, military conquest, and the establishment of trade monopolies. The Portuguese, led by explorers like Vasco da Gama, first established sea routes to India and the Spice Islands, gaining control over key ports. Later, the Dutch and British followed suit, creating powerful trading companies such as the Dutch East India Company and the British East India Company, which used armed forces to dominate local trade networks and eliminate competition. This shift allowed Europeans to control production, pricing, and distribution of spices, significantly impacting global trade.
Arabs:) Let me guess, you go to GACA right? I got the same question. The answer is Arabs or Portugese, but I thought about it for a while. It's Arabs.
They restricted European trade to the city of Canton. << NovaNet
European explorers believed that the Northwest Passage would take them to Asia and the Spice Islands for the purpose of setting up lucrative trade routes. They thought that this water route would be a more direct and faster route.
In the late 1700s, the Chinese limited European trade primarily to the city of Canton, known today as Guangzhou. This restriction was part of the Qing Dynasty's efforts to control foreign influence and trade. The Canton System established a trade monopoly, allowing European merchants to interact only with designated Chinese merchants, known as hong. This system significantly shaped the dynamics of trade between China and European powers during that period.
Arabs
Italy as a united country has never controlled trade with Arabs. The city-state of Venice controlled the spice trade along with the Arabs in 1500s and 1600s, but most other forms of trade in Italy were dispersed throughout different provinces at different time periods.
the establishment of European empires
The establishment of European empires
1100
spice trade
No. The Arabs & Venetians controlled the Spice Trade.The Spice Trade was a two-part endeavor. Arab merchants went to the Indian subcontinent or sailed to Indonesia to buy spices from local merchants and brought them to the Levantine ports like Jaffa, Tyre, Sidon, and Byblos. Or, they would be brought to the major Turkish cities like Istanbul and Bodrum. At all of these port cities, Venetian merchants would purchase the spices from the Arab merchants and redisperse them in Venice to various European States. As the Venetians were the most effective shipbuilders in the Mediterranean, they prevented the rise of any European attempting to cut into the trade. (Venice is now part of Italy, but it was independent until the 1800s.)
The spice system, also known as the spice trade, has its roots in ancient civilizations, but it was particularly developed by various cultures in Asia, such as the Chinese, Indians, and Arabs, who were instrumental in cultivating and trading spices. The system became more structured during the Middle Ages with the rise of trade routes, including the Silk Road and maritime routes connecting Europe, Asia, and Africa. European powers, especially during the Age of Exploration, further expanded and exploited the spice trade, establishing colonies and monopolies that shaped global commerce.
The most important spice during the Middle Ages was black pepper. It was a very valuable commodity in the European spice trade.
the spice trade
The moors vasco de gama discovered the spice after traveling to India
Arabs & Venetians The Spice Trade was a two-part endeavor. Arab merchants went to the Indian subcontinent or sailed to Indonesia to buy spices from local merchants and brought them to the Levantine ports like Jaffa, Tyre, Sidon, and Byblos. Or, they would be brought to the major Turkish cities like Istanbul and Bodrum. At all of these port cities, Venetian merchants would purchase the spices from the Arab merchants and redisperse them in Venice to various European States. As the Venetians were the most effective shipbuilders in the Mediterranean, they prevented the rise of any European attempting to cut into the trade. (Venice is now part of Italy, but it was independent until the 1800s.)