Cumin, Camels, and Caravans, 45 - (California Studies in Food and Culture) by Gary Paul Nabhan

Gary Paul Nabhan's "Cumin, Camels, and Caravans" is an epic journey across time and space that reveals the critical roles Semitic peoples and desert floras played in setting the stage for globalized spice trade.

Drawing on his own family's history as spice traders and travel narratives, Nabhan follows caravans of itinerant spice merchants from the Arabian Peninsula to China and Santa Fe, uncovering vivid tales of historical figures and his own travels along the ancient spice routes.

With a broad multidisciplinary perspective, he provides reflections on how the spice trade influenced his family's migrations and offers insights into the origins of globalization.

This book is a must-read for anyone interested in food, history, or cultural diffusion.