Spice and the Devil's Cave facts for kids

Spice and the Devil's Cave is an exciting adventure book written by Agnes Hewes. It was first published in 1930. This book is a type of story called historical fiction. This means it tells a made-up story but sets it in a real time and place from the past, mixing real events and people with fictional characters. Spice and the Devil's Cave was later recognized with a special award called the Newbery Honor, which celebrates excellent books for children.

The story takes place in the late 1490s in Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal. This was a time when brave explorers were trying to find new sea routes to distant lands. In the book, famous explorers like Vasco de Gama, Bartholomew Diaz, and Ferdinand Magellan are discussing their big plans. Their main goal is to discover a sea route around the southern tip of Africa, known as the Cape of Good Hope. Finding this route was super important because it would allow Portugal to reach the spice-rich countries of the Far East by sea, without having to travel over land.

Discovering the World: A Time of Exploration

The late 1400s was a thrilling time for exploration, especially for countries like Portugal and Spain. These nations were eager to find new trade routes to Asia. They wanted to bring back valuable goods like spices, silk, and gold. Spices were especially important because they were used to preserve food, add flavor, and even make medicines.

The Quest for Spices

Imagine a world without refrigerators! Spices were essential for keeping food from spoiling. They also made bland food taste much better. European countries had to buy spices from traders who brought them over long and dangerous land routes. This made spices very expensive. Finding a direct sea route would make spices cheaper and bring great wealth to the country that discovered it.

Brave Explorers and Their Journeys

The book features real-life heroes of exploration. These men risked their lives to sail into unknown waters.

Vasco da Gama's Epic Voyage

Vasco de Gama was a Portuguese explorer. He is famous for being the first European to reach India by sea. He sailed around the Cape of Good Hope in 1497-1498. This journey opened up a direct sea route from Europe to Asia. It changed trade and history forever.

Bartolomeu Dias and the Cape

Before da Gama, Bartholomew Diaz was another Portuguese explorer. In 1488, he was the first European to sail around the southernmost tip of Africa. He originally named it the "Cape of Storms" because of the rough seas. Later, it was renamed the "Cape of Good Hope." This name showed the hope that a sea route to Asia was now possible.

Ferdinand Magellan's Global Dream

Ferdinand Magellan was also a Portuguese explorer. He later sailed for Spain. He is known for leading the first expedition to sail all the way around the world. This incredible journey proved that the Earth was round and that all oceans were connected.

What is Historical Fiction?

Historical fiction is a fun way to learn about the past. It takes real historical events, places, and sometimes real people, and weaves a fictional story around them. This allows authors to bring history to life. It helps readers understand what it might have been like to live in a different time.

Why Read Historical Fiction?

Reading historical fiction like Spice and the Devil's Cave can be very educational. It helps you imagine the challenges and triumphs of people in the past. You can learn about important historical moments, like the Age of Exploration, in an exciting story format. It makes history feel more real and relatable.