Majapahit's Spice Routes: Nutmeg, Clove, and the Moluccas

In this episode, Lucas and Luna dive into the spice trade that made Majapahit a medieval superpower. From the volcanic islands of the Moluccas to the bustling ports of Java, they trace how nutmeg and cloves—worth more than gold—flowed through an intricate network of traders, tribute, and terror. Mpu Prapanca's Negarakertagama reveals Majapahit's claims over Ternate, Tidore, and Banda, but how real was that control? We hear about the hybrid ship-building that produced the colossal jong, capable of carrying 700 tons of spices. The episode explores the paradox of Majapahit's maritime reach: grand claims versus limited direct presence, and the role of the Pasisir—the Muslim northern Javanese ports—that eventually eclipsed the inland capital. With references to Chinese records, Zheng He's fleets, and the later Portuguese accounts, this is a story of empire, ecology, and the world's first truly global commodity. #Majapahit #SpiceRoutes #Moluccas #Nutmeg #Clove #Ternate #Tidore #Banda #Negarakertagama #MpuPrapanca #Jong #MaritimeHistory #Pasisir #Nusantara #SpiceTrade #MedievalTrade #SoutheastAsianHistory #FexingoHistory #IndonesianHistory #SoutheastAsia Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo