Cape of Good Hope Spice Route

Timeline

1. 1498Calicut · Malabar CoastVasco da Gama's fleet rounded the Cape of Good Hope and reached Calicut in India, proving the feasibility of linking Europe and the Indian Ocean via the southern tip of Africa and laying the foundation for subsequent spice routes.
2. 1500–1510Lisbon · PortugalThe crown organized the spice fleets into an annual sailing system, with merchant ships departing Lisbon, rounding the Cape, and traveling back and forth to the Indian Ocean outposts, creating a predictable transport rhythm.
3. 1521–1530Cape of Good Hope · Cape of Good HopeBetween 1521 and 1530, Portugal nearly monopolized the spice trade to Europe via the Cape, with fleet size and frequency reaching a peak; the route linked Goa, Malacca, and the Moluccas and became a pillar of imperial finances.