Pepper: The magic spice from Kerala that triggered global trade, drained the Romans and spawned new empires

The history of the world is inextricably linked to the history of trade, in particular, the widespread trade of goods obtained on the back of atrocities and those capable of shaping our entire monetary system. In Tracking the Trade Winds, we look at the seismic importance of gold, sugar, silk, oil and more in connecting civilisations, enriching empires and facilitating the migration of people and resources. Spawning dynasties, triggering conquests and fuelling discoveries, pepper has played an important role in shaping the world as we see it. Once accounting for over 80 per cent of the global spice trade volume,…