Portugal's Forgotten Empire: The Spice Route That Changed Europe

The History of Portugal: The Small Nation That Built a Global Empire — Fexingo History · May 1, 2026 · 4m · transcript

In this episode, Lucas and Luna dive into the story of how Portugal's control of the spice trade in the 16th century transformed European diets and economies. They explore the journey of pepper and cinnamon from the Malabar Coast to Lisbon, the role of the Casa da Índia, and the lasting impact on global commerce. Learn about the feitorias, the carreira da Índia, and the monopoly that made Portugal a superpower. The hosts also touch on the black pepper trade with the Zamorin of Calicut, the rise of Antwerp as a distribution hub, and how spices funded Portugal's imperial ambitions…