A history of salt book

This book covers it allfrom 100ad when ancient chinese lit up natural gas coming out of brinewater wells to pump out the brine through bamboo tubes into boiling houses to boil the water off the salt, to venices saltworks, to the french revolution where the salt tax, known as the gabelle, was a major point of contention, to the american. In britain, the suffix wich in a placename means it was once a source of salt, as in sandwich and norwich. Its story is a glittering, often surprising part of the history of mankind. Roman salt making entailed boiling the seawater in large leadlined pans. Writing a global history of salt is a great idea, but this book is not it. An unlikely world history from the bestselling author of cod and the basque history of the worldin his fifth work of nonfiction, mark kurlansky turns his attention to a common household item with a long and intriguing history. Searching for the caribbean destiny 1992, isbn 0201523965, a chosen few. The spring tides come in over the seagrass and, when the water retreats, leave salt to crystallize. Production facilities dedicated to the mineral provided work for many people, but now most of the sites are destroyed or hidden deeply under the ground and buildings of modern cities. Salt has made tremendous impacts in human existence from its discovery in many perspectives. Discussions on salt had been occurring for about twoand a half years, but with little progress. History of salt warfare the effects of salt deficiency are highlighted in times of war, when human bodies and national economies are strained to their limits. The main characters of this history, non fiction story are.

It covers ancient rome, the us, uk and france, plus there is a token chapter on china. Sepetys excels in shining light on lost chapters of history, and this visceral novel proves a memorable testament to strength and resilience in the face of war and cruelty. Discover lds genealogy in a new light with family history keepsake journals, generation pedigree charts, and family history beginner kits. The first edition of the novel was published in january 1st 2002, and was written by mark kurlansky. 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. Roman saltmaking entailed boiling the seawater in large leadlined pans. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 484 pages and is available in paperback format. Mark kurlansky this book takes a look at an ordinary substancesalt, the only rock humans eatand how it has shaped civilization from the very beginning. Mar 31, 2017 humans have been harvesting salt there for thousands of years, even before recorded history. The history of the world according to salt is simple.

Salt is the history of the world told from the point of view of the only rock that we eat, which is salt. 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 resurrection of european jewry 1995, isbn 0201608987, cod. When the human menu shifted from saltrich game to cereals, more salt was needed to supplement the diet. Many salt roads, such as the via salaria in italy, had been established by the bronze age. The author never treats you like an idiot and the story moves along through to recent times. 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. Shows the history of mans migration and civilization in a. Tonnes of interesting information, snippets from old recipe books and i mean old and a few pictures dotted in. Granted, a truly global history would require a team of researchers, but even with that in mind, this author could have.

Mar 15, 1982 the social symbolism of salt was painfully evident in the medieval equivalents of the amy vanderbilt complete book of etiquette. Mixing history, economics, anthropology, biology and cooking, its an eye opening view of something that the modern world takes completely for granted. 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. The social symbolism of salt was painfully evident in the medieval equivalents of the amy vanderbilt complete book of etiquette. Mar 28, 2019 the book includes lots of photos, illustrations, and related artwork as well. Today we take salt for granted, a common, inexpensive substance continue. 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. A substance so valuable it served as currency, salt has influenced the establishment of trade routes and cities, provoked and financed wars, secured empires, and inspired revolutions. This closure is to support preventive efforts to control the spread of the cvoid19 coronavirus. However, there are still a few impressive sites which document the work of people who produced an. Family history library in salt lake city temple square. Well written book about the history of salt and its contribution to the world. 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.

Author mark kurlansky has compiled a remarkable book in which he explores every aspect of the mineral that for. Salt is narrated from the dual perspective of central characters barlei and petja, who function as representatives of senaar and als, respectively. The salt industry proudly boasts that its product has some 14,000 uses in hundreds of industries. Mark kurlanskys book salt, which was published in 2002, is a detailed history of salt and its place in both ancient and modern civilizations. Granted, a truly global history would require a team of researchers, but even with that in mind, this author could have done better on both the research and the writing front. 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. The book is part cookbook, trivia, history on one topic salt.

When a publishing company agrees to produce an authors first book, it will often try to stake a claim to his or her second. The salt heres where culture and history intersect. 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. The book includes lots of photos, illustrations, and related artwork as well. Mixing history, economics, anthropology, biology and cooking, its an eye opening view of something that. By weaving science into the core of the human story, big history takes familiar subjects and gives them a.

The most important element of the summit concerned the salt agreements. 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 fascinating early history of salt today i found out. The book is divided into three parts and begins thousands of years in the past. A substance so valuable it served as currency, salt has influenced the establishment of trade routes and cities, provoked and financed wars, secured. 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. Thousands of napoleons troops died during the french retreat from moscow due to inadequate wound healing and lowered resistance to diseasethe results of salt deficiency. Heres where youll find foods back story and the role it is playing in shaping our present and future. However, as mark kurlansky so brilliantly relates in his world.

Publication date 2002 topics salt, salt, salt industry and trade, large type books publisher waterville, me. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The dominant nations throughout history have had control of the trade of this rock that has inspired explorations and shaped prosperities. 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. The first written reference to salt is found in the book of job, recorded about 2,250 bc. The official website for mark kurlansky born 7 december 1948 in hartford, connecticut, a highlyacclaimed american journalist and writer of general interest nonfiction. Humans have been harvesting salt there for thousands of years, even before recorded history. Barlei is a senior military officialeffectively a dictatorbeholden to the welldefined hierarchy of the colony of senaar. However, as mark kurlansky so brilliantly relates in his worldencompassing new book, saltthe only rock we eathas shaped civilization from the very beginning.

Find all the books, read about the author, and more. The book begins well before arizona was a state with the valleys prehistoric canal system and carries through 2011 with the growth of srp and the valley. Author mark kurlansky has compiled a remarkable book in which he. Demand for salt established the earliest trade routes, across unknown oceans and the remotest of deserts. Today we take salt for granted, a common, inexpensive substance that seasons food or clears ice from roads, a word used casually in expressions salt of the earth, take it with a grain of salt without appreciating their deeper meaning. A world history by mark kurlansky 08027734, format. The natron valley was a key region that supported the egyptian empire to its north, because it supplied it with a kind of salt that came to be called by its. I mean, really, who would expect that a critical history of salt, would make for a good read. Delaware county district library ohio american libraries. Jul 05, 2010 salt has often been considered so valuable that it served as currency, and it is still exchanged as such in places today.

Jul 17, 2019 the most important element of the summit concerned the salt agreements. Today we take salt for granted, a common, inexpensive substance continue reading. Water, power, and community is a comprehensive account of srps founding and our role in developing the salt river valley. However, as mark kurlansky so brilliantly relates in his worldencompassing new book, salt the only rock we eathas shaped civilization from the very beginning. As late as the 18th century, the rank of guests at a banquet was. Out of concern for the health and safety of our guests, volunteers, and staff, the family history library in salt lake city will be closed starting at 5. 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. 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. All through history, availability of salt has been pivotal to civilization. Salt was one of the greatest treasures of the ancient world.

Discussions on salt had been occurring for about twoandahalf years, but. The finding, producing, use, transporting, taxing and wars over salt. As a necessity for the human body, salt has been an important substance since the beginning of civilization. Shows the history of mans migration and civilization in a new and fascinating light. 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. Jan 31, 2002 this book covers it allfrom 100ad when ancient chinese lit up natural gas coming out of brinewater wells to pump out the brine through bamboo tubes into boiling houses to boil the water off the salt, to venices saltworks, to the french revolution where the salt tax, known as the gabelle, was a major point of contention, to the american. Salt, salt, salt industry and trade, large type books publisher waterville, me. A world history by mark kurlansky, paperback barnes. Kurlansky traces the history of salts influences from prehistoric china and ancient africa in egypt they made mummies using salt to europe in 12thcentury provence, france, salt merchants. Kurlansky traces the history of salt s influences from prehistoric china and ancient africa in egypt they made mummies using salt to europe in 12thcentury provence, france, salt merchants. History of salt by mark pepper meet your next favorite book.