I refuse to believe England conquered/colonised all that land and territory because they liked the taste of those spices. because they legitimately consider a raw, uncooked can of pork and beans on a slice of toast a sumptuous meal.
I don’t begrudge you your beliefs on the matter at all, factually you are correct, but also slightly incorrect. The truth is a bit of both.
Generally speaking England and Europe didn’t conquer/colonize all or most of their holdings just out of a live of spice- the spice was often a component or at least the trail that led them to a new place they decided to squat.
Spices were a huge thing- not just for flavor but for social status, medicinal uses of the time, and of course food preservation to a degree.
The biggest thing they were though… is money.
England or almost any other empire or person in history that has even the broadest “free” or “black market” ultimately care about money/power.
People went crazy for crypto and now NFT’s- many don’t know what they are or why they are worth money. They don’t care. They’re worth money. People will but and trade anything that is worth money no matter how questionable the value- from NFT’s to Beanie babies or pigs or trading cards
So I’m going to make a separate post to talk about some of the stuff behind the whole spice deal and British food- but in short the love of spice was a driving factor behind expansion and where they expanded- but it didn’t particularly matter that it was spice- just that wealth and territory and power and prestige were available. The “internet revolution” and modern trends saw legacy titans displaced,. Media pillars that didn’t embrace streaming, etc etc. Nokia and Motorola lost their dominance on personal telecom devices and blackberry lost the “e-mail phone” market because competitors that were hungry beat them to control the new market. So in the end it’s more about power and money and the strategy and dynamics of managing societies and such. It just happened to be spice that time. In recent times most of South/Central America was thrown into chaos and war over fruit, rubber, and wood though. That too had more to it and was largely power and money-
- but nothing is so stupid that you can’t get people to pay money for it. To the contrary it’s often harder to get practical things to make profit than silly things and luxuries. That’s another complex topic- but there is always someone willing to make money or gain power without particularly caring how, somewhat paradoxically to keep those people from ruling the world someone else generally has to be willing to do anything and do so quicker and more decisively.
So super short answer- power games and people being people. The spice was just the thing of the day the same as we reshape ecosystems and displace entire peoples for things like disposable napkins or water for golf courses. We look very silly from the outside too, e usually don’t notice or don’t care because we are caught up in it.
Very true. In pre industrial society the only real way to increase production on a mass scale was to add people, and people required all the things people need- which generally meant land was needed to provide areas for farming and water sources and such to support that.
The overall standard of living globally has increased exponentially even at the “lower” rungs of social wealth and power. There are still people in the world who don’t have running water or even clean water- but compared to the past where even the wealthy struggled or didn’t have those things… Pharos built pyramids and Kings owned finery, Musk can go to outer space and the rich still have nicer stuff, but the gap in a given society or region between rich and “peasant” in terms of quality or availability of basic nutrition or shelter etc. and sort of “everyday” things that make life easier is much less now. Technology allows us get more production out of things and we have a global workforce. Territorial “expansion”
was how empties of the past tended to attempt to increase the overall or class specific standard of living. It was also a matter of security- being the only power or the greatest power in a region eases external threats like conquest by others and the control of resources and transit routes helps protect you from the influence of others. So that was a major reason and to an extent still is for expansion. By acquiring new territory “farther from home” it also facilitates further exploration and enterprise. Without enclaves for re supply and rest and without security forces in a region trade and other expositions face danger and hardship that makes exercise of those ventures prohibitive over long range. Having a presence of control in an area can allow those in power to prevent instabilities that threaten dominance or the overall function of things in their favor.
To be clear I’m not saying any of this is “right” or the “best” or only way to do those things- I’m speaking to the topic without discussion of morality or philosophy- just the reasons these things happened not my proclamation on what I think is right or wrong-
So to that topic- a large, “cheap” labor force and the land to support them, establishing enclaves of power and expanding borders, and many other factors beyond simply a love of spices certainly were at play. The desire for spices was merely a catalyst. If not spices we see through history the same thing with rocks from the ground like diamonds or gold which historically were largely useless beyond their trade value and social context, then animal pelts or whatever thing was in demand at a time.
History is largely the tale of someone wanting something someone else has and the person having it not wanting to give it up. The reasons for that want range from dire to petty.
So- obviously white people not liking spices or knowing how to use them is a generality and not something we can say of a whole group, but it is something that is a commonly shared experience and cultural observation. More technically it is that many “white people” tend to be less used to certain uses of spices and flavor or use them differently. But why? Well- Europe and nations or ethnic groups past and present that are often called “white” are diverse and broad- but let’s look at a prime offender- “England” AKA “Britain” AKA… known for bland food and a huge global spice trade and conquest/colonization network. What gives with that? Please, step this way if you’d like to know more. Please note this won’t be totally comprehensive- history is long and wide.
So first thing is first- many spices used around the world came via Asian countries like India or places in Africa or other places outside Europe and especially England. Climate is a huge reason. Agriculture has historically been a touch difficult in much of England/Britain/etc. England especially being known for somewhat chilly and damp weather often. It isn’t devoid of soul for crops but the soil in many places can be difficult for growing crops. The region developed agriculture about 1,000 years later than many peers. So lots of crops couldn’t really be grown in the region, crop diversity was somewhat limited so choice of domestic ingredients was largely limited. Many popular spices do better in climates more like much of India or more “tropical” climates where humidity is right and weather is warm etc.
So England didn’t have a lot going in the spice game from natures bounty to start and wound need technology and systems they didn’t yet have to make domestic spice production real
So England can’t really grow spices so much at this point, and they need to trade for spices, with spice trade largely controlled by foreign traders who can demand large markups on top of the inherent costs of transportation etc. and dangers associated with the trio and such. Common black pepper was worth twice its weight in gold at one point in Europe because of largely the controlled and small scale nature of the spice trade. Now remember there isn’t a whole lot to do back then and life generally sucks, so rich people don’t necessarily have the same gap in choice or lifestyle as modern ones- they were somewhat limited by their reality. Food sucked and is largely boring and often not fresh and tastes it.
So spices took off for those reasons and as medicines and of course- because wether it’s torn up sneakers or a specific bag or whatever- what the rich wants tends to get marked up.
Now we will start to talk about how good got so bland despite the spices and why!
Ok- lots of things happened. First of all- like many things- the rich do things and the middle class copy them and eventually the lower classes copy them and then the rich don’t want to do it because it isn’t cool anymore. That was one factor. As spice trade opened up, prices fell and less wealthy people could afford spices. Remember- at one point in European history people rented pineapple for fairly hefty sums, not to eat but to display and show off they had “pineapple money.” You can say that’s dumb- but pagers, mobile phones, smart phones, BEATS or EarPods or jeans with Robbins on them or air Jordan’s… whatever. People but things to show off and then when the fad isn’t cool they stop showing off. It’s called conspicuous consumption and it’s generally stupid but socially can be wise. Pineapples no longer need insurance most places so things change often of course.
Now- the rich didn’t want to just eat nasty food because good food was lame now- but the rich could get things people with less money couldn’t as easily. Perhaps fresher ingredients or better storage, exotic ingredients and so forth. They generally had more options. This ain’t so odd- after the 50’s heavily seasoned and rich foods became “vogue” in America. We now see wealthy people trending for some time away from. Giant portions of such foods and going with “fusion” and experimental” cuisine or foods using more advanced preparation and lighter smaller meals. The trend went from places like celebrity “royalty” and trickled down to where the bargain grocer has “organic” foods and fast food joints generally sport salads and wraps and options and marketing to attract people looking for that “lighter” meal that has become the status symbol to may.
So a bunch of other things happen culturally and historically. Lots of major religious governments pass through Europe and England in that period. They bring ideas that “earthly pleasures” including food are related to sins- food should be for surviving and it’s excessive or gluttonous to indulge and such. Ideas like that pop up and hold on.
Medical concepts concerning foods and spices change and influence peoples diets in England.
Several plagues and other mass hardships upend supply chains and economics and disrupt the ability to get food at all let alone spice it up.
A big knock comes with the industrial revolution- people are now working longer hours with less down time and an emphasis on productivity. Urban living blows up and any are pulled away from places where different ingredients may be more abundant. Pollution makes it worse- at one point eel was one of the only fish that could survive around urban centers in the River Thames.
Quick, cheap, easy, available, good shelf life, preferably able to be made in large batches- this is the direction food goes for many. Little flavor here and there as able, some butter or spice etc. shortly after WW1, the Great Depression, WW2 would come along and also cause food issues among other smaller issues that popped up here and there. But without going too much into detail these events are in part shaping the food culture and eating habits of a nation and generations who made so with what was there give way to the same- and these dishes become staples and part of a cultural identity. We tend to get accustomed to our “comfort foods” we grew up with or ate through life.
There is much more but I am getting errors trying to post lol. There are some fundamental differences that emerged in the philosophy of flavoring dishes that lend to the issue and some other things, but I guess this is my sign to call the topic done for now.
Generally speaking England and Europe didn’t conquer/colonize all or most of their holdings just out of a live of spice- the spice was often a component or at least the trail that led them to a new place they decided to squat.
Spices were a huge thing- not just for flavor but for social status, medicinal uses of the time, and of course food preservation to a degree.
The biggest thing they were though… is money.
England or almost any other empire or person in history that has even the broadest “free” or “black market” ultimately care about money/power.
People went crazy for crypto and now NFT’s- many don’t know what they are or why they are worth money. They don’t care. They’re worth money. People will but and trade anything that is worth money no matter how questionable the value- from NFT’s to Beanie babies or pigs or trading cards
So super short answer- power games and people being people. The spice was just the thing of the day the same as we reshape ecosystems and displace entire peoples for things like disposable napkins or water for golf courses. We look very silly from the outside too, e usually don’t notice or don’t care because we are caught up in it.
The overall standard of living globally has increased exponentially even at the “lower” rungs of social wealth and power. There are still people in the world who don’t have running water or even clean water- but compared to the past where even the wealthy struggled or didn’t have those things… Pharos built pyramids and Kings owned finery, Musk can go to outer space and the rich still have nicer stuff, but the gap in a given society or region between rich and “peasant” in terms of quality or availability of basic nutrition or shelter etc. and sort of “everyday” things that make life easier is much less now. Technology allows us get more production out of things and we have a global workforce. Territorial “expansion”
So to that topic- a large, “cheap” labor force and the land to support them, establishing enclaves of power and expanding borders, and many other factors beyond simply a love of spices certainly were at play. The desire for spices was merely a catalyst. If not spices we see through history the same thing with rocks from the ground like diamonds or gold which historically were largely useless beyond their trade value and social context, then animal pelts or whatever thing was in demand at a time.
History is largely the tale of someone wanting something someone else has and the person having it not wanting to give it up. The reasons for that want range from dire to petty.
So England didn’t have a lot going in the spice game from natures bounty to start and wound need technology and systems they didn’t yet have to make domestic spice production real
So spices took off for those reasons and as medicines and of course- because wether it’s torn up sneakers or a specific bag or whatever- what the rich wants tends to get marked up.
Ok- lots of things happened. First of all- like many things- the rich do things and the middle class copy them and eventually the lower classes copy them and then the rich don’t want to do it because it isn’t cool anymore. That was one factor. As spice trade opened up, prices fell and less wealthy people could afford spices. Remember- at one point in European history people rented pineapple for fairly hefty sums, not to eat but to display and show off they had “pineapple money.” You can say that’s dumb- but pagers, mobile phones, smart phones, BEATS or EarPods or jeans with Robbins on them or air Jordan’s… whatever. People but things to show off and then when the fad isn’t cool they stop showing off. It’s called conspicuous consumption and it’s generally stupid but socially can be wise. Pineapples no longer need insurance most places so things change often of course.
Medical concepts concerning foods and spices change and influence peoples diets in England.
Several plagues and other mass hardships upend supply chains and economics and disrupt the ability to get food at all let alone spice it up.
A big knock comes with the industrial revolution- people are now working longer hours with less down time and an emphasis on productivity. Urban living blows up and any are pulled away from places where different ingredients may be more abundant. Pollution makes it worse- at one point eel was one of the only fish that could survive around urban centers in the River Thames.