From the 11th to the 13th century: a balance of strongholds
The great Italian republics played an important role in the spice trade. Venice, Genoa, Amalfi, Pisa and even Florence became rivals, as the trade was so important. France and the people of Marseille mastered the west coasts of Africa and Europe as far as Norway, and increasingly strengthened their position towards the Orient: trade flourished.
Trade relations with the Levant were naturally affected by the international situation, which was itself dominated by religious strife. At times, Muslims forbade all trade with Christians; at others, the Popes prevented all transactions with infidels.
In 1179, at the Lateran Council, the spice trade was naturally diverted to Constantinople; the Italian republics had deposits in Aleppo and Beirut, and the Spanish Catalans concluded a treaty with the Sultan of Egypt in 1250 through James I, King of Aragon. In Baghdad, the Caliphs' bankers were Jewish, as the Koran did not allow interest to be charged on money.
At the end of the 13th century, the rivalry between Alexandria and Constantinople was very strong, but allowed both cities to have their own customers.
Egypt ⇒ Italy crossing the Alps ⇒ Netherlands (via Rhine) ⇒ Nuremberg
Constantinople ⇒ Baltic ⇒ Danube ⇒ Netherlands
Bruges became the spice trading center of Europe, with English, Spanish, French and Germans all meeting there. Wool for spices. Finer in Spain, coarser in England, the Medici of Florence used Bruges to supply their fine linen factories, bringing spices and pharmaceutical products in exchange. Venice bartered spices for linen and wool from Flanders. In 1179, the Pepper Guild was founded in London, and the Grocers' Guild in France.
In Europe, spices were becoming essential commodities. By enhancing the flavour of food, stimulating the appetite and facilitating the digestion of what was often a heavy, bland diet, spices were making a name for themselves.
The spice trade was carefully organized, and by the end of the 13th century spices were readily available and relatively inexpensive.
