Indonesia: Sketch of a feast on the island of Banda in 1599 as described by Dutch travellers, pictured on the right.

Originally colonized by the Portuguese in 1511, the 10 tiny volcanic islands of Banda, or Maluku, were then administered by the Dutch East Indies Company, which plundered the islands of its spices, including nutmeg, cloves and mace. After holding the Bandanese spice trade monopoly for 200 years, the Dutch were finally expelled when the British captured the Bandas in 1810.

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Supplier: CPA Media Co. Ltd.

Credit:

Pictures From History

Theme:

East India Companies,