History of Asia

Why did europeans want Asian Spices?

Preservation: Spices were used to preserve meat and other foods, which was especially important in a time before refrigeration.

Medicine: Spices were believed to have medicinal properties and were used to treat a variety of ailments, including digestive problems, headaches, and toothaches.

Flavor: Spices were used to add flavor to food, as they were not as readily available as they are today.

Status symbol: Spices were a luxury item and were often used as a status symbol, especially among the upper classes.