audiobook History; Heroism and Home: A family’s story through two thousand years of history by Mr Terence Kearey in History

Description

Cloves and nutmeg are indigenous to the Spice Islands of Eastern Indonesia. This intriguing book - now available in paperback - tells of the many uses of these exotic spices and the history of their trade over a period of more than 2;000 years. The book describes how such aromatic spices influenced the battles; the politics; and the rise and fall of numerous commercial empires. It follows the Silk Road across Central Asia and the Spice Route over the Indian Ocean; and it shows how the spice trade into Europe came to be dominated by Middle Eastern and Venetian merchants. Backed by the Crowns of Portugal and Spain; explorers (such as Columbus; Vasco de Gama; and Magellan) dreamt of capturing this trade by sailing directly to the Spice Islands; driving the maritime exploration of the world known as "The Age of Discovery." Much of the story is told through the lives of these historical characters; as well as Sir Francis Drake; Jan Pieterzoon Coen; Pierre Poivre; and others who are lesser known but equally important. The story also revolves around the intense rivalry between the Sultans of Ternate and Tidore and their relationship with the Portuguese; Spanish; Dutch; and English; who at different times occupied the Spice Islands. The book follows the growth of the Dutch and English East India Companies - which were founded to profit from the spice trade - and their efforts to monopolize that trade. It finishes as the Dutch East India Company goes into bankruptcy and the once splendid Sultanates sink into obscurity.