The legacy of the Venetian spice trade.

Question: What forces have shaped humanity most?

Lidia Bastianich: I think if you look very, very way back in history, food has been a big determining force in . . . from the Venetians and their spice trades to the Orient, and bringing back and making actually ____________ one of the richest sort of city state; which in turn with its money created Florence and the salt trades; which in turn fueled the Renaissance or whatever. So food is potent. You know the travel of Columbus was to find the new . . . yes, was to find the Fountain of Youth; but also it was to find new foods and new ideas. So food is extremely important in the evolution of what happens in the world – happened and it continues to happen.