It was weighed with gold and it changed the taste of world history. 'The Spice Monopoly' documents the rise of simple plant substances to the most valuable trading goods on earth. We examine how the hunger for pepper, cinnamon, and cloves drove explorers across the oceans and created the first true world economy.It is the story of greed, adventure, and total control over global supply chains. Learn how the Portuguese and Dutch built empires through spice monopolies based on the aroma of distant islands. We analyze the effects of the spice trade on European cuisine, medicine, and the emergence...