Question

Why were the spices in Asia so expensive when sold in Europe?

Answer 1

Spices like cinnamon and cardamom were aromatic and a new thing in Europe. Since they could not be grown in Europe or nearby, they had to imported from India and Sri Lanka. This required long journeys by sea, which were expensive. This, in addition to its demand in Europe due to its rarity, caused the spices to be sold at high prices in Europe.

Answer 2

Spices in Asia were so incredibly expensive when sold in Europe because they were new, harder to come by, and had to be imported which was not an easy feat at the time. Importing meant long journeys that were often difficult, and the trades were not always easy.