Central Java played a role as one of the significant points in the Spice Routes’ knot. It didn’t produce a lot of spices which became the most desirable commodity at that time, but Central Java owned rice, another significant commodity in the Spice Routes.

Traders must sail a long distance and spend a lot of time to get the spices from different islands. Rice played its crucial role as a supply along the journey in spice trades. In the Mataram Sultanate period in the 17th century, rice became a significant medium of exchange.

Cities with ports in Central Java, especially Semarang, through its Bergota Port, also participated in distributing food supplies other than spices. The deposition in Bergota Port led the Chinese who stopped over in Semarang to conduct their search towards spices in Maluku.

Trade activities in Semarang and the surrounding areas triggered other exchanges, such as knowledge, religions, and cultural acculturation that the traces still exist today for us to see.

What kind of traces of Spice Routes can we find in Semarang and the neighboring areas?

Follow an interesting journey of Indarti S.A. @cece_chaann, Caswanto @caswanassegaf, Harival Zayuka @harivazayuka in tracking down the traces of Spice Routes in Central Java in the video!