How Pepper Changed Our World

When the merchant Sir James Lancaster, commander of the English East India Company’s first fleet, returned to England in 1603 with ships laden entirely with pepper, this marked a turning point. A time where the Western world shifted and there was no going back. It shifted to a space of desire, a thirst for consumption, a hunger for product and profit. The unknown became known — and ownable.

By looking at how pepper entered Europe from the medieval times until the late 1700s, we can see how the past created our current trade systems. In this episode, we interview Dr. Paul Freedman about the breadth and richness of the spice trade, Lizzie Collingham on how Britain’s relationship with pepper expanded trade, and Dr. Helen Clifford about the guild of peppers. If you’re interested in reading more about these subjects, check out these books by today’s guests: Out of the East: Spices and the Medieval Imagination by Dr. Paul Freedman, The Hungry Empire: How Britain’s Quest for Food Shaped the Modern World by Lizzie Collingham, and From Grossers to Grocers: the History of the Grocers Company, from Foundation to 1798 by Dr. Helen Clifford.

Taste of Place is part of Whetstone Radio Collective. Learn more about Taste of Place here.

Find show notes here.

And transcript here.