SALT:A World History Mark Kurlansky

Salt: A World History tells how a common mineral has played a huge role in human history. Kurlansky shows that salt was once a vital commodity—used for food preservation, trade, taxes, and politics—and shaped societies, economies, and empires. The book traces salt’s story from ancient China and Egypt through Europe, Africa, and the Americas, showing how control of salt influenced roads, revolutions (like Gandhi’s Salt March in India), wars, and the rise of trade routes. Along the way the author mixes history, culture, and fascinating anecdotes to reveal how something so simple helped shape civilization.