The History of Salt: It's Way More Interesting Than You Think

Most people don’t think much of salt beyond the shaker on their dinner table or the salt lamp on their nightstand, but salt has been serving a vast array of important purposes here on earth for over 8000 years! From ancient Chinese medicinal use to Roman Currency to today’s litany of health, consumable and aesthetic uses, salt has been integral on Earth for millennia.

Salt has been used in food and medicine going back to ancient China; its first written note appearing somewhere around 2700 B.C. but it had been in use in China for thousands of years prior. From ancient Rome to portions of Ethiopia still today, salt is used as payment for work. In fact, the word “salary” that we use today comes from the word salt. Other words like salad, sauce, and sausage also derive their name from the word salt – a component or common seasoning of each historically. There are even over two dozen references to salt in the Bible.

Salt mines and salt-making have been important for most known civilizations throughout history. Salt mines are prominent throughout Europe all the way to China and even Siberia, down through the Middle East and into Africa. Salt making has been key for these societies' growth and even ends up being a strategic part of war for some.

For example, Napoleon’s invasion of Russia suffered greater human loss during retreat due to the soldiers being deficient in salt, and thus their wounds not healing effectively. In the Civil War, a battle was fought for Saltville, VA, a town the Union wanted to take to diminish the south of their salt supply. In addition to the strategic advantage of a salt-deficient soldier, the lack of salt also had a negative impact on morale among civilians in the south. During the Revolutionary War, George Washington’s personal salt supply was even captured by the British. Salt isn’t just strategic for war, it can also be a catalyst for war, as it was with the French Revolution, when citizens revolted in part due to a salt tax.

Salt is a component of various religious ceremonies all around the world as well. Salt is commonly used as a purification device in many different religions. Purification can be to dispel it of evil spirits or a symbol of the cleanliness of an item used in ritual. Sumo wrestling even has a tradition of tossing salt into a ring before a match as a Shinto ritual to cleanse away spirits before the competition. Also notably, the 13^th Dali Lama was buried sitting up in salt after his death in 1933.

All across the world throughout history, from Asia to Europe to the Middle East and America, salt has been a staple of society with countless uses. It remains prevalent today, as a seasoning, preservative, health supplement, and even decorative with the popularity of salt lamps today so one thing’s for sure – salt is here to stay.