🚀 go-pugleaf

A Short Spicy History:


The history of spices seems to be as old as mankind. Archeological remains
suggest that prehistoric man
flavored his meat with aromatic leaves and fruits. And what must count as
the worlds oldest spice book, a
fragment from Mesopotamia written in cuneiform script, mentions the spices
sesame, cardamom, caraway, dill,
fennel, thyme and saffron. 

In nearby Babylon they were fond of record-keeping. Square-bearded King
Merodach-Baladan left posterity the
first herb garden manual, with notes on 64 spices and herbs. 
----------------------------------------^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Whatever the Babylonians could not grow in their own country, the area
between the Euphrates and Tigris today
known as the plains of Iraq, they obtained by caravans and rafts. 

The ancient Chinese tradition of using spices in the service of human
healing gave rise early on to an extensive
collection of herbal and medicinal rules. 

Ginger and star anise are thought to be the oldest spices native to China;
nutmeg, on the other hand, was
obtained from the Moluccas, and different types of Cinnamon came from the
Spice Islands. Medieval Europe
came into contact with the Orient through the Crusades. What began as a
religious war surprisingly gave rise to
the closest of trade relations between the Orient and the Occident. Arabian
culture left a permanent mark on the
development of the Christian Occident. Not only was the number system
adopted, but also aspects of oriental
life style with its sophisticated cuisine. 

As the Middle Ages drew to a close, the demand for spices soared. The old
trade routes were no longer able to
supply the desired quantities. In this economic crisis of the 15 th
century, the price of pepper rose
astronomically on its way from India to Venice. in 1492, Christopher
Columbus set out to resolve this crisis with
a single move. All transport and customs problems would be solved by taking
the sea route to India, he
thought, and he sailed westward. However, what he discovered instead of
In article <philEtvyyn.GME@netcom.com> phil@netcom.com (Phil Ronzone) writes:
>In article <dorfmanEtr26u.JGH@netcom.com> dorfman@netcom.com (Merlin Dorfman) writes:
>>Phil Ronzone (phil@netcom.com) wrote:
>>
>>: Sigh - so much ignorance, so little time ...
>>   
>>     My sentiments exactly.
>>
>>: The Romans were preserving food using spices since the begining.
>>
>>     Wrong.
>
>
>Snicker. There's a good book out. Titled simply "Spices". It describes
>100+ spices, where they came from and who used them. Read it. It lists the
>large number spices thbe Romans used, including the usage of preserving
>food.
>
>
>>: As for "no communications", ever hear of the "Spice routes", or the
>>: "Silk Road"?
>>
>>     If you look up "Silk Road" and "Spice Routes," you will find in 
>>the same references the name "Marco Polo," which you will note was
>>also in my message that you quoted.  That's...when...the...
>>communication...began!  Get it??
>
>
>Snicker more. Hint - standard railway gauge.
>
>No, that requires knowledge. Hint, silk road cities with stove
>paving  -- such paving haveing ruts WORN into them inches deep.
>spacing between wheels - standard roman guage.
>
>Tell me, do you ever use any FACTS?
>
>
>
>
>-- 
>"I didn't do it, nobody saw me, and you can't prove it!" - B. Simpson
>
>These opinions are MINE, and you can't have 'em! (But I'll rent 'em cheap ...)


--