The Spice Islands ((1257–1914 AD, Ternate) and (1450–1967 AD, Tidore))

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The Spice Islands (Maluku, or the Moluccas) are a small group of islands in Indonesia, located between Celebes and New Guinea. They include the largest island, Halmahera, as well as Seram, Buru, Ambon, Ternate, Tidore, and the Aru and Kai island groups. This archipelago was known for being the largest producer of mace, nutmeg, cloves, and pepper in the world, precious commodities traded globally. The rival sultanates of Ternate and Tidore wrestled for control over the spice trade, at times aligning with opposite factions of Europeans who sought to control the spice trade themselves.

Fort Amsterdam on Hila, Ambon, was first built by the Portuguese, led by Francisco Serrao, in 1512 and was used as a trading lodge. After the Dutch took control of the island of Ambon in 1605, they took over the trading lodge and turned it into a stronghold. (Photo: Shinatria Adhityatama)
Ceramic finds from the settlement site of Tomu, Hitu, Ambon. Most of the ceramics found were imported from China and Southeast Asia. It is believed that such ceramics were used as a medium of exchange in the spice trade. (Photo: Shinatria Adhityatama)
The Kedaton of the Sultanate of Ternate was built on November 24, 1813 by Sultan Muhammad Ali, and the Kedaton was handed over to the government to be used as a museum in 1977. (Photo: BPCB Ternate)