The Spice Trade Turned Deadly
The Dutch East India Company, or VOC, chased nutmeg, cloves, and mace with ruthless focus. In the Banda Islands, it enforced a monopoly through violence and coercion, destroying local society to control the spice trade.Dutch East India Company: The Dark Side of the Spice Empire
Profit Was the Point
The company could buy spices in Indonesia and sell them at 14 to 17 times the purchase price. Those huge profits helped build Dutch wealth, while local producers were forced to accept low prices and harsh control.Dutch East India Company: The Dark Side of the Spice Empire
