Spice trade involved the movement of spices such as pepper, cinnamon, and cloves across long distances. It has existed for thousands of years and connected regions in Asia, Africa, and Europe. Spices were highly valued goods.

Many spices came from places like India and Southeast Asia. They were used in cooking, medicine, and food preservation. Traders carried spices by land and sea to markets far from where they were grown.

During the 1400s to 1600s, European explorers searched for direct sea routes to these regions. The spice trade became an important part of global trade systems.