The area was once globally renowned as the Spice Islands because it was the exclusive source of coveted spices like nutmeg, cloves, and mace. In the 15th century, the Spice Islands (also known as the Banda Islands) were visited by the Portuguese, who sought to purchase nutmeg directly from the locals.
At the time, nutmeg was as valuable as gold. Sailors had to endure months at sea to acquire this precious cargo, causing prices to skyrocket by the time the spices reached Europe. In the early 17th century, the Dutch invaded the Banda Islands and established a strict spice monopoly.
In 1667, the Treaty of Breda ended the Second Anglo-Dutch War and featured one of history's most fascinating territorial swaps: the Dutch surrendered New Amsterdam (now New York City) to the English in exchange for full control over the nutmeg-producing Spice Island of Run in the Banda Islands.
An Untouched Tropical Paradise