Kerala’s spice routes shaped global trade, say experts

Experts at the International Spice Routes Conference on Tuesday said Keralas transformation into a major spice trade hub since ancient times was shaped by the contributions of people from diverse countries and cultures over the centuriesSpeaking at the threeday conference on the theme Spice Routes People Goods and Ideas in Motion which began at the historic Bolgatty Palace here they highlighted Keralas emergence as a prominent Spice Route and a melting pot of culturesThe January 68 conference is being organised by the Muziris Heritage Projects in collaboration with the Kerala Tourism DepartmentIndias first conference of its kind the event has been conceived as an intellectual and cultural platform to reconnect the ancient Spice Route with contemporary global discourseAddressing the opening session Kerala Tourism Director Sikha Surendran said that long before modern borders were drawn these routes shaped the world through the exchange of goods ideas and culturesNoting that Muziris stood at the centre of global movement she said it was not merely a port but a space where civilisations met negotiated and learned from one anotherFrom this coast spices carried the scent of Kerala to distant lands while ideas returned transforming societies cultures and ways of life In an age of rapid change and renewed global movement they remind us that heritage is not static she saidSurendran said the conference was a call to reimagine the spice routes as living networks of culture creativity and cooperation rooted in communities guided by ethics and open to the worldElaborating on Keralas historic spice trade Michael Tharakan former vicechancellor of Kannur University said the interportal trade convention of the 1920s between the British the Madras Government and the Travancore and Kochi governments established Kochi as the major port on the coast emerging as a centre of colonial tradePius Malekandathil former professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University said that when trade in European markets stagnated due to feudalisation pepper and other spices from Malabar reached Europe and North Africa through Arab trading networksHe said pepper from Kerala was among the key commodities traded at Mediterranean and Atlantic ports as early as the 8th centuryIn Germany pepper was commonly used as a medicine in the 14th and 15th centuries The city of Cologne had 45 shops selling 91342 pounds of pepper 453545 pounds of dried ginger and 8005 pounds of green ginger between 1452 and 1459 Malekandathil saidCommenting on plantation labour politics Chhaya Goswami Head and Associate Professor at Somaiya Vidyavihar University said financial instruments such as hundis bills of exchange and kinshipbased credit networks enabled Indian capitalists to navigate and circumvent British restrictions on slaveryShe said these mechanisms ensured economic continuity even as formal abolition policies came into forceParticipating online Fahad Bishara of the Doha Institute Qatar said mobility was one of the defining features of Indian Ocean history with enduring connections forged through commerce and tradeS Swaminathan Secretary of the Kerala Travel Mart Society also addressed the gatheringThe conference has drawn a wide crosssection of participants including academicians and historians archaeologists diplomats policymakers tourism stakeholders artists cultural practitioners and performersThe event also signals Keralas intent to tap into growing global demand for highvalue experiential and culturally immersive travelThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever