Ancient Trade Routes of Ceylon Cinnamon: How the Spice Traveled the World
Long before air freight and cargo ships dominated the spice trade, Ceylon cinnamon - often called "True Cinnamon" - embarked on an extraordinary journey from the lush forests of Sri Lanka to markets across Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and beyond. Prized for its delicate flavor and medicinal value, Ceylon cinnamon was not just a commodity; it was a catalyst that shaped ancient trade networks, invited the interest of empires, and helped forge connections between civilizations. In this post, we uncover the main trade routes that carried Ceylon cinnamon across the globe, and the historical impact of this revered spice.
CEYLON CINNAMON HISTORY & HERITAGE
8/3/20251 min read
In ancient times, the main trade routes for transporting Ceylon cinnamon globally primarily involved maritime and overland paths centered on the Indian Ocean and beyond:
Indian Ocean Maritime Routes: Cinnamon originated in Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) and was shipped by Arab, Persian, and Moorish traders across the Indian Ocean. These traders secretly controlled the cinnamon trade for centuries, transporting the spice to ports in East Africa, Arabia, and then onwards through overland and sea routes to the Mediterranean region and Europe. This Indian Ocean spice route was crucial for connecting the East with the West and made Sri Lanka a key hub in the ancient spice trade network.
Arab Monopoly and Secrecy: Arab merchants guarded the true source of cinnamon by spreading myths that concealed its origin, ensuring their monopoly on the spice. Through this control, cinnamon traveled along established spice routes from Sri Lanka to the Middle East and Mediterranean markets, often via ports like Aden and Alexandria.
Silk Road Linkages: Besides maritime trade, cinnamon also connected with overland Silk Road routes extending from the Arabian Peninsula through Persia and Central Asia to Europe. This dual sea-and-land network helped cinnamon reach a range of civilizations in the ancient world.
Ports and Trade Hubs: Key ancient ports on the Indian Ocean and Mediterranean served as transshipment points. From Sri Lanka’s coastal ports, cinnamon moved to important trade cities in Arabia and East Africa, then through Mediterranean ports such as Alexandria in Egypt, from where Venetian and other European traders distributed it further.
European Discovery and Colonization: Lack of knowledge about cinnamon’s origin motivated European explorers in the 15th and 16th centuries to seek direct sea routes to Ceylon, leading to Portuguese, Dutch, and later British control of the island and its cinnamon trade, thereby shifting ancient trade monopolies.
Thus, ancient trade routes for Ceylon cinnamon constituted a complex network of maritime and overland passages operated by Arab and other traders to funnel the prized spice from Sri Lanka through the Indian Ocean, East Africa, the Middle East, and onto the Mediterranean, connecting Asia and Europe long before European colonization
