A History

by John Keay

 

Epic in scope, marvelously detailed, laced with drama, this history of the spice route spans three millennia and circles the world to chronicle the history of the spice trade. With the aid of ancient geographies, travelers' accounts, mariners' handbooks, and ships' logs, John Keay tells of ancient Egyptians who pioneered maritime trade to fetch the incense of Arabia, Graeco-Roman navigators who found their way to India for pepper and ginger, and the European explorers Columbus, de Gama, and Magellan who sailed the seas in quest of spices. This enthralling saga transports readers from the dawn of history to the ends of the earth.