alternatehistory.com

WI the European powers didn't have the spice trade to motivate their voyages of discovery from the Middle Ages onwards ? let's say, if somehow other methods of food preservation obviating the need for spices were discvoered earlier- such as freezing/freeze-drying- or were more popular- such as smoking or drying- or perhaps if some other latnertiave preservative substance had been found closer to home ? Without the spice trade, would Europe have still advanced as much as OTL or not ?
Top