The Craftsmanship of Eastern Tapestry
People of the East have a long tradition of carpet weaving, with Persian carpets and Ottoman kilims still standing out today for their quality, patterns and colors. Since ancient times, carpets have served Middle Eastern nomads as protective coverings in sandstorms and also to create softer saddles on the backs of their camels. Gradually, Persians and Arabs warmed up and decorated their houses and mosques with them. Carpets were a key part of a bride’s dowry and a great gift of honor for a guest as well.
The Spice Trade Route
One of the oldest trades is the spice trade which played an important political, historical and cultural role over the centuries. It all started with the great explorations in the East. Merchants, sailors, explorers and travellers brought exotic spices to the West via the old caravan routes, from the Far East and Asia to Europe. The distance that separated the old continent from their countries of origin made the spices particularly valuable, so much so that the value of some of them approached that of gold.