Hardcover
Rare flavors, daring journeys, and a world transformed by spice.
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The History and Natural History of Spices

The 5,000-Year Search for Flavour

RRP$62.98

$55.38

  • Hardcover

    328 pages

  • Release Date

    24 August 2023

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Summary

An illustrated study into the dramatic search for spices through history, and how the pursuit of rare flavours changed and opened up our world.

Spices have been highly valued since at least the Bronze Age, with the so-called Spice Trade, spanning Asia to the Mediterranean, developing from the late centuries BC. By the first century AD, Roman society spent vast sums fuelling their demand for spices, importing black pepper from India and other exotics from further afield.

Import…

Book Details

ISBN-13:9781803991566
ISBN-10:1803991569
Author:Ian Anderson
Publisher:The History Press Ltd
Imprint:The History Press Ltd
Format:Hardcover
Number of Pages:328
Release Date:24 August 2023
Weight:668g
Dimensions:156mm x 234mm
A-Format
B-Format
C-Format
The History and Natural History of Spices by Ian Anderson - ISBN: 9781803991566
156 × 234 mm
A4
mm / in
What They're Saying

Critics Review

‘Ian Anderson picks the spices that we buy regularly at our supermarket and takes us on a journey about how they arrived at our tables. It is a tale of kings and conquests and high-sea adventures. From the peppercorn found in the nostrils of the mummy of Rameses II to the cinnamon and spices used for the coronation of Richard III, these seeds, roots, and herbs, sourced in India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and other Asian countries travelled the world sought by Pharaohs and Kings. In their discovery lay the secrets of many Empires. A must-read for those interested in the history of spices.’

– Shrabani Basu, author of Victoria and Abdul and Curry: The Biography of the Nation’s Favourite Dish

About The Author

Ian Anderson

Ian Anderson is a professional geologist with a long-standing interest in history and archaeology, who has lived and travelled extensively in SE Asia for over 25 years. He has previously published papers in geology and an article on travel by light aircraft in Mexico, and lives immersed in a ‘foodie’ environment as his wife is a cordon bleu chef. He lives in Suffolk.

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