Can you believe that in 15-17th century Europe, people were willing to risk their lives for a nutmeg? During that time, doctors in London claimed that this spice was the only cure for the contagious plague. Overnight, the little nut from the East skyrocketed in price, surpassing even gold. The awkward part was that no one knew the exact origin of this tiny treasure, triggering a massive treasure hunt among navigators. A group of Portuguese explorers succeeded in finding an island covered with pepper, nutmeg, and cloves, located in what is now the Malay Archipelago. However, they mistakenly believed it was the legendary East Indies. Thus, the term East Indies became synonymous with this archipelago of spices.

The spice race propelled humanity into the Age of Discovery. In 1492, Columbus firmly believed that he could detect even the slightest scent of spices in the air. Despite telling the Spanish king that he had discovered the East Indies, he had actually reached the Americas. Over two decades later, Magellan’s fleet faced hunger and disease, with over half of his crew perishing, and he himself meeting his end in a skirmish along the way. Only two ships remaining, they finally returned to Spain laden with nutmeg and other spices. The king was delighted, and his first act was to reward the captain with a coat of arms featuring 3 nutmegs, 2 cinnamon sticks, and 12 cloves. These cheap local commodities brought them profits thousands of times their cost.

More and more colonizers, enticed by the spice, flocked to the islands, leading to fierce competition. Among them, the notorious East India Company was undoubtedly the most successful. In 1600, they finally secured the signature of the Queen of England, granting them the concession on spice trade with the East Indies. This loosely defined geographic term then represented the entire Southeast Asia. They established bases wherever they went, and a highly exploitative trade network gradually took shape.

Today, new independent nations have long been established in the burgeoning Asia, and in the resource-rich Southeast Asia, new place names continue to emerge. The somewhat colonial alias “East Indies” has long faded away, but the global landscape, set in motion by the humble nutmeg, is becoming increasingly clear.