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Learning Center Spice Migrations: Mapping the History of Six Popular Spices Learning Center Home About Learning Center Overview Americas Culture Geography History Middle East North Africa Southeast Asia The following learning tools build off the six-part series Spice Migrations, written by Jeff Koehler and illustrated by Linda Dalal Sawaya, to highlight social-studies concepts and explanations while building reading comprehension skills. Each learning tool builds a timeline and plots the locations of historical moments on a world map. CinnamonPepperNutmegClovesCuminGinger Cinnamon: Where did it come from? OverviewThe story “Spice Migrations: Cinnamon,” written by Jeff Koehler and illustrated by Linda Dalal Sawaya, focuses on one of the most-common spices around the world, one that was once scarce and mysterious. Early merchants kept the origins of cinnamon a secret and so kept a lock on the valuable spice trade. Eventually, the secret got out, and cinnamon became the ubiquitous spice it is today. Key Terms As you read the article, you will notice the words below. See if you can figure out what these words mean based on their context. Then click on the words below to see if you’re right. Al-Ramhormuzi Anointing oil Ayurvedic medicine Cremation Dexterity Embalming Herodotus Kibbeh Malay Monsoon Nard Pervasive Pilaf Pliny the Elder Pungent Sinhalese Key Concepts This learning tool lends itself to learning three foundational social studies concepts: the economic concept of scarcity; the historical concept of turning point; and the concept of migration. Warm up Before reading the article or doing the activities, discuss these three questions. What do you associate with cinnamon? Is it common in the foods you eat? Explain. Is it expensive, easily affordable, or somewhere in between? Timeline In this activity, build a timeline of events connected to the migration of cinnamon from the earliest times to the present. Mapping Activity In this activity, map the migration of cinnamon from Asia to Europe. Pepper: King of the Spices OverviewThe story “Spice Migrations: Pepper,” written by Jeff Koehler and illustrated by Linda Dalal Sawaya, focuses on one of the most-common spices around the world. History records show how pepper has been a food enhancer since the time of the Greeks and Romans. Originating from India, pepper has experienced trade that has carried it from Asia to the Middle East. In the 1500s its shortage in Europe helped spur the Age of Exploration. Key Terms As you read the article, you will notice the words below. See if you can figure out what these words mean based on their context. Then click on the words below to see if you’re right. Globalization Ibn Battuta Jiddah Kerala Kochi Kozhikode Levant Madinah Makkah Malabar Coast Zayton Key Concepts This learning tool lends itself to learning three foundational social studies concepts: the economic concept of scarcity; the economic concept of globalization; the historical concept of turning point; and the concept of migration. Warm Up Before reading the article or doing the activities, discuss these three questions: What do you think of when you hear the word pepper? Do you use pepper in the foods you eat? Explain. Do you think pepper is expensive or easily affordable? Explain. Timeline Activity In this activity, build a timeline of events connected to the migration of pepper from the earliest times to the present. Mapping Activity In this activity, map the migration of pepper from Asia to Europe. Nutmeg: A Spice For Food, Medicine And Geopolitics OverviewThe story “Spice Migrations: Nutmeg,” written by Jeff Koehler and illustrated by Linda Dalal Sawaya, focuses on one of the most-common spices around the world. For centuries, nutmeg had been known only to the people of the islands of South Asia and China. By 750 CE, Muslim traders brought it to the Middle East where it was used more for medicinal purposes than as a food enhancer. In the 17th century, however, nutmeg began playing a more global role, in a land swap that gave the Netherlands control of the nutmeg trade in South Asia, and Britain a very distant island in North America. Key Terms As you read the article, you will notice the words below. See if you can figure out what these words mean based on their context. Then click on the words below to see if you’re right. Archipelago Drupe Extant medieval cookbooks Melaka, Malaysia Nationalize Orang Kaya Mauritius Spice Islands Warm up Before reading the article or doing the activities, discuss these three questions: What do you think of when you hear the word cloves? How do you think cloves is used? Do you think cloves are expensive or easily affordable? Explain. Key Concepts This learning tool lends itself to learning two foundational social studies concepts: The economic concept of globalization; and the historical concept of turning point. Timeline Activity In this activity, build a timeline of events connected to the migration of nutmeg from the earliest times to the present. Mapping Activity In this activity, map the migration of nutmeg from Asia to Europe. Cloves: A History of Cooking and Revolution OverviewThe story “Spice Migrations: Cloves,” written by Jeff Koehler and illustrated by Linda Dalal Sawaya, focuses on the expansion of clove production beginning in South Asia and traveling to Europe through Arabic traders and colonization. Originally in control of the Bandanese, clove production and trade were monopolized by European colonizers, leading to revolution and eventually local ownership. Key Terms As you read the article, you will notice the words below. See if you can figure out what these words mean based on their context. Then click on the words below to see if you’re right. Archipelago Astringency Biryani Malukus (Maluku) Islands Mauritius Melaka, Malaysia Nationalize Pulao Redolence Spice Islands Warm up Before reading the article or doing the activities, discuss these three questions: What do you think of when you hear the word cloves? How do you think cloves are used? Do you think cloves are expensive or easily affordable? Explain. Key Concepts This learning tool lends itself to learning two foundational social studies concepts: The economic concept of globalization; and the historical concept of turning point. Timeline Activity In this activity, build a timeline of events connected to the migration of cloves from the earliest times to the present. Mapping Activity In this activity, map the migration of cloves from Asia to Europe. Cumin: Murky Origins, Worldwide Use OverviewThe story “Spice Migrations: Cumin,” written by Jeff Koehler and illustrated by Linda Dalal Sawaya, focuses on a spice that, in addition to its health benefits, has become part of the foodways of many cultures worldwide. Key Terms As you read the article, you will notice the words below. See if you can figure out what these words mean based on their context. Then click on the words below to see if you’re right. Akkadian Empire Antimicrobial Antioxidant Cuneiform Dukkah Entrails Flatulence Frankincense Mutton Venison Warm up Before reading the article or doing the activities, discuss these three questions: What do you associate with cumin? How do you think cumin is used? Explain. Do you think cumin is expensive or easily affordable? Explain. Key Concepts This learning tool lends itself to learning two foundational social studies concepts: the concept of primary and secondary sources; and the concept of migration. Timeline Activity In this activity, build a timeline of events connected to the migration of cumin from the earliest times to the present. Note, additional sources of knowledge and information outside the article may prove resourceful. Mapping Activity In this activity, map the migration of cumin from the region of ancient Akkadia to the Mediterranean basin, India, Iberia and the Americas. Ginger: A Spice With Many Uses OverviewThe story “Spice Migrations: Ginger,” written by Jeff Koehler and illustrated by Linda Dalal Sawaya, one of the most-common spices around the world that , in addition to its health benefits, has become part of the foodways of many cultures worldwide. Key Terms As you read the article, you will notice the words below. See if you can figure out what these words mean based on their context. Then click on the words below to see if you’re right. Confucius Dioscorides Infusion Junk Lu Buwei Makrout Perennial Propagate Rhizome Savory Warm up Before reading the article or doing the activities, discuss these three questions: What do you associate with ginger? How do you think ginger is used? Explain. Do you think ginger is expensive, easily affordable or somewhere in between? Explain. Key Concepts This learning tool lends itself to learning three foundational social studies concepts: the concept of climate; the concept of resources; and the concept of trade. Timeline Activity In this activity, build a timeline of events connected to the migration of ginger from the earliest times to the present. Note, additional sources of knowledge and information outside the article may prove resourceful. Mapping Activity In this activity, map the migration of ginger from Asia to Europe, the Middle east and the Americas.