The spice trade refers to the trade between historical civilizations in Asia, Northeast Africa and Europe. Spices such as cinnamon, cassia, cardamom, ginger, pepper, and turmeric were known, and used for commerce, in the Eastern World well into antiquity. These spices found their way into the Middle East before the beginning of the Christian Era, where the true sources of these spices was withheld by the traders, and associated with fantastic tales. Prehistoric writings and stone age carvings of neolithic age obtained indicates that India's South West Coastal port, Muziris in Kerala had established itself as a major spice trade centre from as early as 3000 B.C, which marked the beginning of Spice Trade. Kerala referred to as the land of spices or as the Spice Garden of India was the place all traders and explores wanted to reach including Christopher Columbus, Vasco da Gama etc.