The Spice Islands, also known as the Moluccas or Maluku Islands, were historically known as the "Spice Islands" due to their rich sources of valuable spices, particularly cloves and nutmeg. The islands are located in eastern Indonesia, and were a major center of the global spice trade from the 16th to the 19th centuries. The Dutch East India Company, or VOC, played a significant role in controlling the spice trade in the region during this time.