Peppers, Nutmeg, and Cloves: Part 3

As always, the economic values of these spices was always seen as a priority. The Portuguese dominated the Clove trade during most of the 16th century. Unfortunately, the Portuguese never made a complete monopoly out of their opportunities. They tried making treaties and agreements with the islands of Ternate and Tidore, but they never lasted. When the 17th century came around, the Dutch were extremely powerful and very harsh. The Dutch soon took over control and pushed Spain and Portugal out of their shares of the islands. Thanks to the Dutch's East India Company or Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie, VOC, the Dutch became masters of the spice trade and they soon capitalized on the opportunities these islands present. Although it was not easy, it took the VOC until 1667 to take over COMPLETE control over Moluccas, the islands of all the Clove trees. The Dutch made a treaty to give all rights to the VOC for trading goods and the villages back down. The tribes did not stay loyal to the treaty and they started trading with other groups. The Dutch civilization was very angry and their response was ruthless. They began to burn down villages and tear up groves until the natives had nothing left. The English also got involved and tried to help out the natives, but the Dutch were too powerful. Through years of bloody fighting, in 1667, the Dutch and English made the treaty of Breda and the English surrendered all claims and the Dutch got Nutmeg as well. The spice economy would have surely grown and went farther, but the refrigerator had been invented. Spices are no longer needed as preservatives and the value of them went down. Today, people never hear of the toil that people went through centuries ago…