On 7/6/06, Jon_Lincicum wrote: > Spices were important for preserving meat due to lack of refrigeration. > > It's an interesting contrast to see the Dragaeran Empire, where > refrigeration is possible via sorcery. Or if not refrigeration, then at least preservation (dry ice, if you recall, was made using witchcraft, not sorcery). Presumably, decay bacteria can be killed or kept at bay. Sorcery also appears to be used for more general antibiotic & antiviral purposes, even if those who do so don't know that that's what they're doing. Note Savn (& Master Wag), using chants against the Imps of Fever, and the fact that the plagues come only after sorcery no longer works. > Spices, therefore, may not be quite the economic drivers that they were in > our own history. > Vlad would look with piteous eyes upon that statement. "But... but... what about for *food*?!" Although the reduced need for spices might explain Dragaeran vs Easterner food preparation.