Since the beginning of the 16th century, many of the European countries, namely the Portuguese, the Spanish, the Dutch and the British, have desired control over the spice trade at its sources in India and Indonesia, which was previously known to the world as the Spice Islands. Spices had many various uses and were thus highly priced and coveted, being able to preserve food and make medicine, among other uses. The Europeans thus decided to get to Asia to cut out the Muslim merchants who dominated and monopolised the trade.