Mediterranean Spice Trade Route

Timeline

1. 1000–1200Red Sea–Egypt corridor · Red SeaSpices from the Indian Ocean were shipped north via Yemen and the Red Sea to Egypt, then transshipped via the Nile and Mediterranean ports; Arab and Armenian merchants controlled the Middle Eastern leg, and European merchants took delivery at Levantine ports.
2. 1241–1250Venice · VeniceIn the 1240s Venice, through Eastern Mediterranean colonies and tariff privileges, nearly monopolized Western European distribution of pepper and other key spices; high spice prices supported naval expansion and noble wealth accumulation, and rivalry with Genoa over sources was intense.
3. 1250–1400Mediterranean · MediterraneanVenice, Genoa, and Pisa repeatedly contested port privileges and convoy rights on spice routes; wholesale spice prices and tariffs became pillars of city-state finances, while bills of exchange and partnership systems reduced long-distance trade risk.
4. 1401–1501Atlantic Ocean · Atlantic OceanIn the late 15th century Portugal opened a route around Africa to India; spices were shipped directly to Western Europe, profits of the traditional Mediterranean transshipment route fell sharply, and the commercial hegemony of Venice and other Mediterranean city-states collapsed more rapidly.