In the sixteenth century, one of the world\'s most precious commodities was cochineal, a legendary red dye treasured by the ancient Mexicans and sold in the great Aztec marketplaces, where it attracted the attention of the Spanish conquistadors.
As the English, French, Dutch, and other Europeans joined the chase for cochineal -- a.
Soon Spain\'s cochineal monopoly was worth a fortune.
Shipped to Europe, the dye created a sensation, producing the brightest, strongest red the world had ever seen.
In the sixteenth century, one of the world\'s most precious commodities was cochineal, a legendary red dye treasured by the ancient Mexicans and sold in the great Aztec marketplaces, where it attracted the attention of the Spanish conquistadors
