In this episode, we follow the trail of one of history’s most prized spices — nutmeg — from its remote birthplace in the Banda Islands to its central role in the expansion of European empires. We begin with the Portuguese conquest of Malacca in 1511 and their first voyages to the Banda Islands, the only source of nutmeg and mace at the time. Along the way, we encounter Enrique of Malacca — a Malay man who sailed with Magellan’s expedition and may have been the first person linked to a global circumnavigation.

We also explore the unique biogeography of Wallacea, a biodiverse crossroads identified by Alfred Russel Wallace, where Asian and Australasian worlds meet. The episode begins to trace the formations of the British and Dutch East India Company, the brutal struggle for monopoly over the spice trade.

explore some links...

Banda Islands — History & Spice Trade (Wikipedia) . Banda Islands (History)Nutmeg — Production & Global Trade Context (Wikipedia) — Covers the uniqueness of nutmeg, its source in the Banda Islands, and European efforts to monopolise it. Nutmeg (History and Trade)
Spice Migrations: Nutmeg (AramcoWorld) — Long-read article on Bandanese mariners, Portuguese, Dutch, and English struggles for control, and the Treaty of Breda. Spice Migrations: Nutmeg (AramcoWorld)European Discovery & Conquest of the Spice Islands (World History Encyclopedia) — Scholarly overview of how the Spice Islands were incorporated into global networks and the VOC’s later dominance. European Conquest of the Spice IslandsEnrique of Malacca (Wikipedia) — Verified entry on the Malay man taken by Magellan, his role in the expedition and the debate around possible early circumnavigation. Enrique of Malacca (Explore)Alfred Russel Wallace — The Malay Archipelago (Royal Geographical Society summary) — Information on Wallace’s observation of distinctive faunal boundaries (Wallace Line). Wallace, The Malay Archipelago (Summary)
Wallacea https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wallacea

Stay Tuned...this podcast covers seasons following Trade and empathy, Ecstasy and empathy, the empathy evolution of man and much, much more...it's going to be a wild ride. What's more, start with these links above and see where they take you!

Disclaimer
This podcast explores history, chemistry, cultural belief, and speculation.
It does not provide medical advice or advocate drug use.
Nutmeg contains the compound myristicin, which is not MDMA.
Historical medicinal claims reflect beliefs of their time, not modern science.
Some ideas presented are interpretive and are examined critically throughout the series.