Salt: A Case Study in Old World Globalization
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Table of Contents
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"...though it’s hard to imagine salt, a substance that we can buy for pennies in the grocery store, was a transformative commodity in human history – it was. From the earliest civilizations organized by the Neolithic Revolution to the Indian Independence movement in the 20th century, salt has been a constant commodity. It’s been a unifying and dividing component of global trade, of global unrest, and of the civilizations and moments that made up world history. ..."
Key Terms
- Salt
- Via Salaria
- Gabelle
Guided Viewing Questions
- Why did salt become so important to early civilizations?
- How did salt contribute to economic globalization?
- How did it shape politics and foreign relations? Give at least one specific example.