During which century did Venice monopolize the spice trade from India using exclusive trade agreements?

Venice is situated at the far end of the Adriatic Sea. Its geographic location positioned it to become one of the richest and most powerful economic trade centers of Europe resulting in its economic supremacy in the 15th century.

Also, its geographic location resulted in Venice’s large scale profit of the adjacent European markets. It became the major center of trade with the Arabs and indirectly through the Arabs, for the trade of spices from India. In was during the 15th century that Venice reached its peak when it monopolized the spice trade from India through the Arabs using exclusive trade agreements.

Historically, Venice’s economic dominance evolved as far back as the Etruscan culture where trade with the Romans in northern Italy helped establish Venice as a emergent and developing economic power. At the same time, Venice succeeded in extending its trade privileges in the Byzantine Empire. Byzantium as well as the Holy Roman Empire were always prepared to concede privileges to the Venetian traders.

In Venice, political leadership was reserved for the nobility who had the sole right to exercise the trade of spices, bringing considerable wealth to the nobles during the 15th century.

As a result, it encouraged the Spanish and the Portuguese to embark on the search for the new route to India, leading to the discovery of Americas and the start of the Modern Age of exploration.