Cities and wars History of salt

salt production on læsø, denmark (reconstruction)

salt has played prominent role in determining power , location of world s great cities. liverpool rose small english port become prime exporting port salt dug in great cheshire salt mines , became entrepôt of world s salt in 19th century.

salt created , destroyed empires. salt mines of poland led vast kingdom in 16th century, demolished when germans brought in sea salt (which of world considered superior rock salt). venice fought , won war genoa on salt. however, genoese christopher columbus , giovanni caboto later destroy mediterranean trade introducing new world market.

cities, states , duchies along salt roads exacted heavy duties , taxes salt passing through territories. practice caused formation of cities, such city of munich in 1158, when duke of bavaria, henry lion, decided bishops of freising no longer needed salt revenue.

the gabelle—a hated french salt tax—was enacted in 1286 , maintained until 1790. because of gabelles, common salt of such high value caused mass population shifts , exodus, attracted invaders , caused wars.

in american history, salt has been major factor in outcomes of wars. in revolutionary war, british used loyalists intercept revolutionaries salt shipments , interfere ability preserve food. during war of 1812, salt brine used pay soldiers in field, government poor pay them money. before lewis , clark set out louisiana territory, president jefferson in address congress mentioned mountain of salt, 180 miles long , 45 wide, supposed lie near missouri river, have been of inconceivable value, reason expedition.

during india s independence movement, mohandas gandhi organized salt satyagraha protest demonstrate against british salt tax.

english -wich towns

wich , wych names associated (but not exclusively) brine springs or wells in england. derived latin vicus, meaning place , 11th century use of wich suffix in placenames associated places specialised function including of salt production. several english places carry suffix , historically related salt, including 4 cheshire witches of middlewich, nantwich, northwich , leftwich (a small village south of northwich), , droitwich in worcestershire. middlewich, nantwich, northwich , droitwich known domesday wiches due mention in domesday book, indication of significance of salt-working towns in economy of region, , indeed of country .