Foti Pitrakkos Salt was once a potent commodity. It played a vital role in the lives of ancient people, particularly due to its use in food preservation. Cities rose to prominence around its deposits. Empires were sustained by its power. ... It is a remarkable saga. Rebellion and death, oppression and power, universal importance and historical impact – salt has touched everything. And then, it simply faded away. No impressive ending, no last stand – it just realised that it no longer had any power. There are lots of reasons. Technology being the main player, in multiple ways. Salt became much easier to produce after the industrial revolution, transportation of such resources became a much more reliable and efficient undertaking, and electricity made its profound mark on civilisation. The quiet actor in this play, that dealt a significant blow to the value of salt, was the refrigerator. .... Read more |