From the archives: East India Portcullis Money
April 1, 2026 | Featured
In the 1570s and 80s Portugal had built up a trade monopoly with the East. This was undermined in the 1590s by two works published by the Dutch geographer Jan Huyghen van Linschoten. Translations of these two works with their invaluable sailing directions for Eastern waters were eagerly sought by European merchants. An expedition to the East Indies for spices was set up by a Dutch consortium on nine merchants in 1594. They despatched four ships commanded by Cornelis Houtman, taking nearly 15 months to reach the north-east coast of Java at Bantam.
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