On July 31, 1667, an extraordinary deal was struck: England officially swapped two of the small islands for a swampy Dutch colony once known as New Amsterdam — now New York. The rest, as they say, is history. Back then, the Banda Islands had a monopoly on nutmeg.
What did the Dutch trade for the island of Manhattan?
Manhattan, in what is now modern-day New York, was a swampy piece of land when the Dutch swapped it with the British 350 years ago for a tiny island in Indonesia. Run island was prized as the home of nutmeg – a spice worth more than gold at the time.
Why did the Dutch trade Manhattan?
The seat of the colonial Dutch government at southern tip of Manhattan Island had a population of 2,000 people, but they quickly capitulated. In 1677, the two countries came to an agreement; both had refused to give up their claims on each other’s islands, so they made a trade.
What did the Dutch do to get nutmeg?
In an effort to keep people from replanting the nutmeg they sold, the Dutch dipped it in lime, which effectively prevented it from sprouting. But this wasn’t the only obstacle to overcome in their nutmeg monopoly. The British were still dabbling in nutmeg trade from their stores on the island of Run.
How was nutmeg traded?
Nutmeg was traded as early as 200 BC, when the Romans would travel from Egypt across the Indian Ocean, to trade goods with the natives of Banda in exchange for spices. Spice use declined around the 5th century with the fall of the Roman Empire, and was later reintroduced by the Arabs. (Conley, J. 2002.)
Who traded beads for Manhattan?
In 1626, the story goes, Indigenous inhabitants sold off the entire island of Manhattan to the Dutch for a tiny sum: just $24 worth of beads and “trinkets.” This nugget of history took on such huge significance in the following centuries that it served as “the birth certificate for New York City,” Paul Otto, a
Who controlled the nutmeg trade?
Dutch traders
Plot the route of 17th-century merchants with our geo-tour of the nutmeg trade, then watch our video, from the National Geographic Channel’s series “Eat: The Story of Food.” Learn how Dutch traders ruthlessly controlled the nutmeg trade—and helped shape the American cultural landscape in the process.
Did the Dutch really buy Manhattan for $24?
The colonial era is full of subversive deal-making, but the world’s most notorious real estate coup occurred in 1626, when the energetic Dutch settler Peter Minuit, as an agent for the West India Company, purchased the unimproved woodland “island Manhattes,” covering 15,000 acres, for 60 guilders worth of goods (around
Why did the Dutch want the spice Islands?
The Dutch were drawn to Indonesia in the late 1500s by the promise of immense profits in the lucrative spice trade. Cloves, nutmeg and mace – found only on a few volcanic islands in Indonesia – were luxury items in Medieval Europe. They were highly valued for their exotic flavours and perceived medicinal properties.
Did the Dutch buy Manhattan?
Manhattan later became the site of the Dutch city of New Amsterdam, and the borough of Manhattan of modern-day New York City. A common account states that Minuit purchased Manhattan for $24 worth of trinkets.
Peter Minuit.
| Peter Minuit, Minnewit | |
|---|---|
| Succeeded by | Sebastiaen Jansen Krol |
| Personal details |
Did the Dutch steal the spice trade?
The Dutch monopolized the nutmeg trade and kept it centered in the Moluccas. They went through great lengths to preserve their monopoly. During the Spice Wars of the 17th and 18th century the Dutch uprooted groves of nutmeg and cloves trees to keep prices high and cut their competitors out of the market.
How did the Dutch lose Manhattan?
The war ended with the signing of the Treaty of Breda, leaving Manhattan under English rule. In exchange, England conceded to the Dutch the South Pacific Island of Run.
What’s left of New York’s Dutch past?
New Netherland goes back a long way. The Dutch traded along the Hudson River as early as 1611 and established Fort Amsterdam on the southern tip of Manhattan island in 1625. Four decades later, New Amsterdam, the capital of New Netherland, had grown into a lively port of 1,500.
Where did nutmeg originally come from?
Nutmeg originated in the Banda Islands of Indonesia, and was discovered by the Portuguese in 1512. The importance of the nutmeg seed was propagated by the Dutch. The name nutmeg is derived from the Latin nux muscatus, meaning “musky nut.” In India, nutmeg is known as Jaiphal.
Why was nutmeg so valuable?
So, why was nutmeg so valuable? Well, Krondl likens it to the iPhone of the 1600s. It was fashionable among the wealthy. It was exotic and potent enough to induce hallucinations — or at least a nutmeg bender, as detailed in this account from The Atlantic.
Why was nutmeg so expensive in 17th century?
Nutmeg as expensive as gold during 17th and 18 th century because it is only found in some parts of ASIA and it was very difficult to transport it to INDIA through sea routes because at that time their was no more modes of transports for long distance.
Who sold Manhattan to the Dutch?
governor Peter Minuit
To legitimatize Dutch claims to New Amsterdam, Dutch governor Peter Minuit formally purchased Manhattan from the local tribe from which it derives it name in 1626. According to legend, the Manhattans–Indians of Algonquian linguistic stock–agreed to give up the island in exchange for trinkets valued at only $24.
Who did the Dutch buy Manhattan from?
This letter from Peter Schaghen, written in 1626, makes the earliest known reference to the company’s purchase of Manhattan Island from the Lenape Indians for 60 guilders. Schaghen was the liaison between the Dutch government and the Dutch West India Company.
Are there any Dutch buildings in NYC?
Dyckman Farmhouse
This is Manhattan’s last remaining Dutch farmhouse, built around 1785 in Dutch colonial architectural style by William Dyckman to replace the family farmhouse that was destroyed during the Revolutionary War.
When did the Dutch conquer the Spice Islands?
The invasion of the Spice Islands was a military invasion by British forces that took place between February to August 1810 on and around the Dutch owned Maluku Islands (or Moluccas) also known as the Spice Islands in the Dutch East Indies during the Napoleonic wars.
What advantages did Dutch traders have in the struggle to control the spice trade?
Their ships were small in size and number, but they had shipboard cannons that were unmatched. Their superior firepower helped them gain control and build a Portuguese trading empire. What island did the Portuguese, under Albuquerque’s command, seize after da Gama’s voyage?
Justin Shelton is a professional cook. He’s been in the industry for over 10 years, and he loves nothing more than creating delicious dishes for others to enjoy. Justin has worked in some of the best kitchens in the country, and he’s always looking for new challenges and ways to improve his craft. When he’s not cooking, Justin enjoys spending time with his wife and son. He loves exploring new restaurants and trying out different cuisines.