For some reason, took New York to the term "Big Apple up '- is even meaningful? Unbeknownst to most people, and as a result of a remarkable twist in the fate of the city assets owed actually far more to some exotic tropical spices in Indonesia, as they do to the humble apple.
the spices in question are nutmeg. Both come from the nutmeg tree, native to a small chain of islands called the Banda Islands, which itself is part of a larger group of islands, called Moluccas, or spice Islands -. a chain of islands in the vast Indonesian archipelago today are the Banda islands largely forgotten and sometimes even omitted from maps of the region, but this common oversight belies its great importance in recent times due. their native nutmeg trees.
Although exotic spices from the Spice Islands had been traded for thousands of years, it was not until around the thirteenth century, when they started to become popular in Europe. For over 300 years, up until 1500, the Venetians dominated European trade with nutmeg and mace - and other exotic spices from the Spice Islands as cloves - as they controlled the Mediterranean sea routes. Venice was very rich as these spices in high demand in Europe and were able to gain astronomical prices. Nutmeg particular was highly valued; the sweet-tasting spice was used as a hallucinogen and aphrodisiac. Meanwhile cloves that have a distinctly sharp taste, have been revered for their medicinal properties. Not only that physicians believe that they can cure the common cold and an upset stomach, but they could also poor eyesight!
improve Kaartje van de band Ash islands of Jacob Keiser circa 1734. Courtesy of Bartele Gallery
The Venetians themselves get the spices from merchants in the Middle East, which held its sources a closely guarded secret. But the monopoly of the Venetians could not last forever. In fact, the potential rewards for the source of this increasingly valuable spices delivered discover a huge incentive for European researchers to unravel the secrets of unexplored areas in the southern hemisphere. Portugal took a leading role in this regard and the route around the southern tip of Africa in charting, accidentally discovered off the coast of Brazil in 1500.
of 1511, a Portuguese fleet under the command of Alfonso de Albuquerque reached the strategically important port of Malacca are traded on the Malaysian peninsula, where the spices from the spice Islands were brought. Aboard the legendary explorer Ferdinand Magellan, was famous for later leading the first true circumnavigation, although he does not make to Europe (he was killed in a brutal battle, while setting up a trade try. Be it in the Philippines)
, the Portuguese finally reached the spice Islands in 1512. This was their pot of gold at the rainbow's end: even if they pay excessive prices for the spices to the local natives, they could still expect gains of up to a phenomenal 1,000 percent harvest, when they re-sell in Europe. The Portuguese were at their success of course thrilled and secure their newfound sources of wealth of the competing Spanish, they built forts on the Molucca islands, many of which can still be seen today.
But the lucrative spice trade had also caught the attention of other European powers, especially England and Holland. Although the Portuguese held on the islands for a while after, succeeded the Dutch control over to snatch it from 05. But the English had their aspirations either not given up. In fact, researchers from both countries have been many attempts to identify alternative routes to the Spice Islands. The arduous two-year journey from Europe to East often ended in disaster, with ship crews decimated by scurvy and other killer diseases.
One of the European explorers keen to find the Spice Islands was Henry Hudson. Although English, he had recruited from the Dutch. But after a Northeast Passage to Asia via the Arctic Ocean and the North Pole in 08 to find fault, sailed his ship eastwards and landed on the east coast of North America to explore, sailing for a route up the Hudson River, which now bears his name , He brought the message of fertile soil on his return to Holland, and the Dutch later sent more missions, eventually a permanent presence in the region in 1614 establishing Not long after, under the threat of attack from other European colonial powers built the Dutch a fort to protect their trading posts on the southern tip of what is now Manhattan. Little Hudson could then have the meaning of his trip to America realized!
New Amsterdam aka Manhattan in 1667
Meanwhile, in the Spice Islands, the Dutch had gained the upper hand hand ~~ POS = HEADCOMP over the English. But even so, they do not have sole control of the Banda Islands. Somehow the English had under the imaginative and determined spice merchant Nathaniel Courthope, managed to establish a foothold on the tiny island Run, where they built forts quickly to protect the island from the Dutch watchful.
The presence of the English on the island was a thorn in the side of the Dutch East Indies Governor General of Jan Pieterszoon Coen - although both sides were united in their common hatred of the Spanish technical allies. By all accounts a ruthless and bloodthirsty man, he put his eyes on the packaging of its unwelcome British neighbors to send. This did not take him long. He quickly conquered two English ships and ordered to give the British. Although Courthope rejected the request, his courage he has not far: he was shot to flee later in attempting by the Netherlands for some time
But in 1624 came the Dutchman a step too far .. On Ambon , accused the Dutch wrongly the entire quota of English traders of a mutiny Engineering. Since the fashion of the time was, these unfortunate traders were soon beheaded after their confessions were drummed out of them by more devious methods of torture. News of revolt soon filtered back to England, where there was a public outcry. Emotions ran for a while so high that the Dutch had to recall their ambassadors. But, the Dutch finally yielded after much heated debate and agreed to give the island run on the British back.
Nevertheless, the peace does not last. From 1660 the British and Dutch had to war after the adoption of the controversial Navigation Act passed former carried by requiring all goods, which sought to protect by England trade England on English ships. an end to the hostilities putting was in 1667.
The Treaty of BredaUnder the transaction, the Englishman agreed their interest in the island of Run in exchange for the Dutch island of Manhattan ad in North America
even if the English thought they made the better deal, they could not have imagined - that they owned were now, what was to become the world's most influential and important city - even in their wildest dreams. So if anyone ever asks nickname New York, why not suggest that perhaps the 'Sweet Nutmeg "would be far more appropriate?
0 Komentar