Gems, Science, and Empire: Talk at the Time to Eat the Dogs Podcast

17th century traders who traveled the sea routes between India and Southeast Asia were interested in spices, but they were also interested in gemstones, objects of desire, commercial value, and increasingly, scientific fascination. Claire Sabel talks about the gem trade in South and Southeast Asia, and the way this trade was impacted by European traders in the 17th and 18th centuries.

"Time to Eat the Dogs" is a weekly podcast about science, history and exploration, produced by Michael Robinson. He is a professor of history at Hillyer College, University of Hartford, who studies the role of exploration in science and culture.