Re: Dinner Tonight, 1/31/2025

On 2/6/2025 7:10 AM, Salvador Mirzo wrote:

That's also very interesting.  I've heard that salt has even been used
as money.  (Is that true?  Is it true that the word salary comes from
``salt''?)

That was before they invented mining equipment and now dig out tons every day.
Ancient Rome: Roman soldiers were paid in salt, which was known as salarium. The phrase "worth his salt" comes from this practice.
Ethiopia: Salt bars were used as legal tender, small change, and for barter. Ethiopians were known for their ability to accurately break off small amounts of salt.
Ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt: Salt was used as a form of currency for exchanging goods and services.
Sub-Saharan Africa: Moorish merchants traded salt and gold at the same value per ounce as early as the 6th century.
Ancient Mayans: Salt was used as money as early as 2,500 years ago.
Moscow: Salt was the main standard of value, medium of exchange, and store of value after the Bolshevik Revolution.
Timbuktu: Salt was valued as highly as books and gold by merchants in 12th century Timbuktu.
Salt was highly valued because it was essential for preservation, but its production was limited.