… for painting, medicine, and cosmetics. It was imported to the Mediteranean from Arab merchants. It was rare in Europe, where the chemical “twin” dye woad (“Isatis tinctoria”) was used instead.
Late in the 15th century, Portuguese explorer Vasco de Gama found a sea route to India, which led to direct trade between Europe and India, China, and Japan without any middleman like the Greeks who imposed duties on goods at the time that passed through their waters.
(Photo: yarn dyed with Japanese Indigo.. a little more green)