Salt book history of salt

The most important element of the summit concerned the salt agreements. Religion there are over 30 references to salt in the bible, including the wellknown expression salt of the earth the history of salt is unique and extensive. Salt, also referred to as table salt or by its chemical formula nacl, is an ionic compound made of sodium and chloride ions. During the middle ages, salt was transported along roads built especially for that purpose. The history of maldon salt, the stuff you already put on. There are 31 other references to salt in the bible, the most familiar probably being the story of lots wife who was turned into a pillar of salt when she disobeyed the angels and looked back at the wicked city of sodom. The only rock we eat, salt has shaped civilization from the very beginning, and its story is a glittering, often surprising part of the history of humankind. But its really the quirks that seem to interest kurlansky and make this book fascinating. Only kurlansky, winner of the james beard award for excellence in food writing for cod. Many salt roads, such as the via salaria in italy, had been established by the bronze age. A world history book by mark kurlansky thriftbooks. The first edition of the novel was published in january 1st 2002, and was written by mark kurlansky. Salt is the history of the world told from the point of view of the only rock that we eat, which is salt.

Publication date 2002 topics salt, salt, salt industry and trade, large type books publisher. The first written reference to salt is found in the book of job, recorded about 2,250 bc. A biography of the fish that changed the world, could woo. Salt was important in the development of human civilization, and for many years it was considered to be a precious material. A world history, author mark kurlansky delves into the history of salt, as well as its impact on empires, wars, and economies, in a text that is lively, comprehensive, and surprising. The scope of this book is epic in that it starts at the beginning of recorded world history and ends at roughly present day times. As mark kurlansky explains in his book, a world history of salt, salt is so common, so easy to obtain, and so inexpensive that we have forgotten that from the beginning of civilization until about 100 years ago, salt was one of the most soughtafter commodities in human history. When a publishing company agrees to produce an authors first book. From the sinking salt towns of cheshire in england to the celebrated salt mine on avery island in louisiana. A world history by mark kurlansky, paperback barnes. However, salt was often difficult to obtain, so it was a highly valued trade item, and was considered a form of currency by certain peoples. A world history by mark kurlansky section 6 summary chapter salt and independence, chapter 14 liberte, egalite, tax breaks, chapter 15 preserving independence summary and analysis. Jan, 2014 the fascinating early history of salt january, 2014 melissa 2 comments there are a lot of different salts like potassium nitrate for gunpowder and sodium bicarbonate for baking but only one that truly meets our dietary needs and satisfies our craving for that salty taste sodium chloride nacl. The book is populated with characters as diverse as frozenfood giant clarence birdseye.

When it rained, a brine soaked into the area around the rock and when the sun came out, the soil produced salt crystals. The book includes lots of photos, illustrations, and related artwork as well. All life has evolved to depend on its chemical properties to survive. Globally, salt has a rich history with many cultures having depended on this abundant mineral for different activities including trades, military the history of salt as we know it today dates way back to recorded history, having as much impact then as it does in the modern world. All through history the availability of salt has been pivotal to. A substance so valuable it served as currency, salt has influenced the establishment of trade routes and cities, provoked and financed wars, secured. As late as the 18th century, the rank of guests at a banquet was. The 1825 abolition of a tax on salt made it more economical to mine for it.

Salt was used as currency in ancient rome, and the roots of the words soldier and salary can be traced to latin words related to giving or receiving salt. All through history, availability of salt has been pivotal to civilization. The students describe their interest in the history of the salt industry and then proceed with a patchwork of reminiscences of former salt company employees, family members, and descendants. When a publishing company agrees to produce an authors first book, it will often try to stake a claim to his or her second. So how did we develop this insatiable taste for salt, and. History of salt by mark pepper goodreads share book. Mar 15, 1982 the social symbolism of salt was painfully evident in the medieval equivalents of the amy vanderbilt complete book of etiquette. A world history by mark kurlansky 08027734, format. The book is divided into three parts and begins thousands of years in the past. Although not strictly food history, salt is at its most winning in the chapters telling of peoples obsession with it for flavoring and preserving meat and vegetables.

This novel explains the importance of salt, a mineral our bodies need, but cannot create. Mark kurlansky starts out by diving into ancient china and their exploitation of salt. Populated by colorful characters and filled with an unending series of fascinating details, salt by mark kurlansky is a supremely entertaining, multilayered masterpiece. As kurlansky reports, the chinese first start using salt when they found salt rocks on the ground. It is fair to say that the humble grain of salt has left its indelible mark across the globe and has profoundly affected human life.

A history of honey, salt, chile, pork, rice, cacao, and tomato. A history of salt notes its role as currency, in the establishment of trade routes and cities, and as an agenda of war, noting key. Colonial americans were making salt by boiling brine in iron kettles during the time that the u. Shows the history of mans migration and civilization in a new and fascinating light. International salt memory book 19771978 and the rock salt mine 19161985 19841985. Commodity history the book is part cookbook, trivia, history on one topic salt. A biography of the fish that changed the world, could woo readers toward such an offbeat topic. From the bestselling author of cod and the basque history of the worldin. Discussions on salt had been occurring for about twoandahalf years, but with little progress. Mark kurlanskys first global food history since the bestselling cod and salt. These sorts of stories sustain the books narrative until, by the end, when. The finding, producing, use, transporting, taxing and wars over salt.

A world history written by mark kurlansky in 2002 is his fifth work of nonfiction. Mark kurlansky this book takes a look at an ordinary substancesalt, the only rock humans eatand how it. Roman salt making entailed boiling the seawater in large leadlined pans. This book provides more than you could ever want on the subject of salt, covering the global history of salt making as well as recipes involving salt. An unlikely world history from the bestselling author of cod and the basque history of the world in his fifth work of nonfiction, mark kurlansky turns his attention to a common household item with a long and intriguing history. One of the wealthiest, ancient, unknown people is the celts, who built their empire on salt. The book jacket identifies the book with the tagline.

All through history the availability of salt has been pivotal to civilization. Its a classic device and salt shows why its still a popular one. Reports from onondaga, new york in 1654 indicated the onondaga indians made salt by boiling brine from salt springs. Mar 31, 2017 humans have been harvesting salt in maldon for thousands of years, for thousands of years, even before recorded history. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. The novel explores how world history might have been different if the black death plague had killed 99% of europes population, instead of a third because fewer catsmore rats. The salt industry proudly boasts that its product has some 14,000 uses in hundreds of industries. However, as mark kurlansky so brilliantly relates in his worldencompassing new book, saltthe only rock we eathas shaped civilization from the very beginning. About salt therapy salt has been around since the beginning of time and has been used throughout history in all sorts of waysas a common cooking ingredient, on snowy and iced roads, as a preservative, and even as currency in centuries past. Mark kurlansky is the author of many books including cod, the basque history of the world, 1968, and the big oyster. A world history, youll no doubt respond to please pass the salt with a new measure of respect for the substance, since every one of us would perish without it. Although the book is well written and enjoyable to read, the subject is not that exciting.

A substance so valuable it served as currency, salt has influenced the establishment. Jan 31, 2002 in his fifth work of nonfiction, mark kurlansky turns his attention to a common household item with a long and intriguing history. The history of salt as we know it today dates way back to recorded history, having as much impact then as it does in the modern world. In salt a world history, mark kurlansky takes a substance that shaped the fortunes of cultures from ancient china to britain to the americas and runs with it. An unlikely world history from the bestselling author of cod and the basque history of the world in his fifth work of nonfiction, mark kurlansky turns. A substance so valuable it served as currency, salt. Feb 24, 2002 the book is a natural outgrowth of kurlanskys previous exhaustive study of cod, which of course was preserved with salt and also affected world history. A world history by mark kurlansky section 6 summary chapter salt and independence, chapter 14 liberte, egalite, tax breaks, chapter 15 preserving independence summary and. Books preserve history of salt mines the history center in. Gandhi, who broke the british salt law that forbade salt production in india because it outdid the british salt trade. He adds that petja and barlei recount both sides of their arrival and descent into war in alternating passages.

Surprisingly, this story does not feature in mark kurlanskys new book. A world history by mark kurlansky 591 words bartleby. The fascinating early history of salt today i found out. The years of rice and salt is an alternate history novel by american science fiction author kim stanley robinson, published in 2002. The book is a natural outgrowth of kurlanskys previous exhaustive study of cod, which of course was preserved with salt and also affected world. It has been used by humans for thousands of years, from food preservation to seasoning. History of salt a timeless ingredient as far back as 6050 bc, salt has been an important and integral part of the worlds history, as it has been interwoven into countless civilizations. Ok, so its not exactly a blockbuster byline but, please, trust me on this onesalt is a moving, intelligent and great book.