Renaissance Economy & Society

The streets of Florence smelled of wool, dye vats, and fresh cloth – here, the wealth was created that financed palaces, works of art, and entire dynasties. Florentine cloth merchants transformed simple wool into gold, laying the foundation for the flourishing of the Renaissance.

Pepper, cinnamon, and nutmeg—simple grains and barks that were once more expensive than gold. Their aroma wafted through the kitchens of Europe, but their journey led via caravans, dhows, and fleets, via merchants, kings, and cannons. The story of the spice trade tells not only of taste, but also of power, wealth, and the beginnings of globalization.