One of the things associated with Indian cuisine is heat from [chili peppers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chili_pepper). Yet, chili peppers can only have been introduced to Asia from their Central and South American homeland after the Spanish conquests of the 1500s.

What was Indian food like before this time? Did heat come from elsewhere or were Indian people eating bland, boring food? Or have I got my food history completely back to front?