Monday, March 07, 2022

A pinch of salt can change history

 History is full of wars and big shots who start them. 

But I am working my way through books about the history of food, and commerce, and spices/condiments.

most folks have a vague idea of how the spice trade inspired western expansion/imperialism into South and East Asia, but that was not the only condiment that could inspire wars and revolutions.

Salt not only added flavor to your meal, but let you dry/preserve your food so it didn't rot so fast.

so one of today's podcasts from medievalist.net is about a Chinese salt rebellion in 870 AD began in a response to the Chinese government establishing a salt monopoly so they could tax salt to replentish their empty treasury. The rebellion failed but caused so much economic damage that the Tang dynasty fell soon afterward.

More links from that blog about salt:


  • Salt trade and warfare in early medieval Transylvania
  • Evidence for medieval salt-making by burning Eel-grass (Zostera marina L.) in the Netherlands
  • Organization and modus operandi of the Byzantine salt monopoly


  • ,,,,,cue to more modern times, when Gandhi's salt march against the British monopoly on salt led to the establishment of an independent India. 

    ....

    An easy to read book on the history of salt throughout the ages is Mark Kurlansky's book Salt...

    here in Asia, salt and salty condiments like Patis/fish sauce etc. are used lavishly. Which is why there is so much high blood pressure here in East Asia.


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