Salt:A World History (1-90)

Summary- Salt has been in our worlds history as long as there have been records kept. They were first introduced in China, used as currency when they built the Great Wall. Salt was made by boiling sea water then extracting the salt crystals from the bottom of the mixture. The provinces of China spent centuries perfecting the process and did not do so until the completion of the Great Wall, and its counterparts.  With the revolution of Salt in China's culture we now move on to Europe and its strange take on the edible rock. The first location of preserved bodies came in Europe with the discovery of Celts. They were found near a salt mine, and appeared to be in a fair condition with their clothes and flesh and hair still completely intact. Celts were recognized by the Romans as a savage race who had no civility and depended on its barbarism to survive. The truth is that Celts were the first civilization to actually preserve meats and foods. The majority of their products were salted meats such as porks and hams in general. Celts were actually known as the salt people according to the Greeks and Romans. The smart thing to do, as many generals noticed was to put a price on salt, and then tax it to make a profit.
      Italy took the need of salt and made small businesses out of it. The farmers and citizens who wanted to make a profit out of the salt business created small ponds that kept salt-water handy. Then on hot days the salt-water crystallized, and could be sold by the pound. Roman Empire: The roman army was a very strong one indeed and made an effort to keep it that way. A commonly-used term that was derived fromt he use of salt in the army is "salary." Another word that came from  the roman empire was "salad" which was salted vegetables, and "soldier" which means paid. Saalt was mandatory to be present at a propr\er Dinner gathering, if not present it would be an insult to guest attending Dinner. Olives were also very important because they were made by being soaked in salt-water.  
      Egypt: Mummies were preseved with salt and many other things. The process is very grusome, but i will explain it anyways. They extract all of the brains throught the nostrils and the take out all o9f the inerds from the stomach.
       Italy: Garum is very nasty, but was supposably good for you at the time. Garum is fermented fish sauce, and physicians saw it as a good healing power for sores headaches, and digestive disorders.

Quote: "The fact that in ancient Egypt the poor were mummified with sodium chloride and the rich with natron suggests that the Egyptians valued natron more."
     Analysis: This qoute was well managed through the text because natron was widely-valued all throughout ancient egypt.