Spice: The History of a Temptation

Turner's history traces spices from their ancient origins through the height of the spice trade in the 15th-17th centuries. The book examines how these commodities shaped economics, exploration, culture and cuisine across civilizations. The narrative covers major historical figures and events connected to the spice trade, including Marco Polo, Vasco da Gama, and the rise of Venice as a trading power. Archaeological findings, historical documents, and period recipes provide evidence for spices' roles in medicine, religion, and daily life. European demand for pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg and other spices propelled centuries of exploration and colonization. The text documents how competition for control of spice sources led to conflicts between powers like Portugal, Spain, England and the Dutch Republic. The book reveals how seemingly simple cooking ingredients came to represent power, wealth and cultural sophistication across societies. Through examining humanity's complex relationship with spices, Turner illuminates broader patterns of trade, taste and human desire.

Readers describe this as an academic deep-dive into spice trade history, focusing more on cultural impact than trade routes. Many note it requires focused attention rather than casual reading. Readers appreciated: - Detailed research and extensive citations - Coverage of spices' roles in medicine, religion, and sex - Examination of European medieval attitudes - Discussion of how spices shaped class structures Common criticisms: - Dense, sometimes dry academic writing style - Jumps between topics and time periods - Too Eurocentric/Western-focused - Limited coverage of Asian spice origins "Gets bogged down in minutiae" appears in multiple reviews, while others note it "reads like a doctoral thesis." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (180+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.8/5 (300+ ratings) Several readers recommend "Nathaniel's Nutmeg" as a more accessible alternative for general readers seeking spice trade history.

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🌶️ The spice trade was so lucrative in the 15th century that a handful of nutmegs could buy a house in London, or pay the ransom for a medieval nobleman. 🌿 Author Jack Turner spent three years researching the book, traveling through India, Indonesia, and the Middle East to trace the ancient spice routes. 🏺 Ancient Egyptians used massive amounts of spices in mummification—a single mummy could require up to 450 pounds of myrrh. 🗺️ The quest for spices played a major role in medieval and Renaissance cartography, with many maps being created specifically to chart routes to spice-producing regions. ⚔️ The tiny island of Run (now part of Indonesia) was traded to the Dutch by the British in exchange for Manhattan in 1667, due to its valuable nutmeg trees.