By definition, salt is nothing but the balanced compound of an acid and a base. Yet, it is necessary in the bodily functions of many organisms, including humans. In his book, titled Salt after this very mineral, Mark Kurlansky states that it has as a commodity, necessity and luxury, been essential to the development of human society, trade and culture. Without salt trade, many of the inventions, customs and communications necessary for other developments may have never been made.
In Salt, Mark Kurlansky is attempting to answer a question of how salt affected the development of human society and the establishment of new ideas. He looks into the societal structures, that salt has been a part of from the beginning of human history, and analyzes how it has affected the course of human development, trade, and culture. Smaller subquestions and topics such as how salt affected more specific events in history are also answered. In writing this book, Kurlansky recognizes how it is important for us as humans to analyze the patterns of trade. It is important to look into and learn from past patterns and events, and with salt, an item that has a culture and trade around it in nearly every culture
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Pulling out one piece of evidence after another, it is clear that he has done a significant amount of research. While many of the arguments were repetitive, it only serves to create an unquestionable statement of importance. In drawing evidence from all parts of the world, and all points of history from the losing sides of wars to the development of customs across a multitude of cultures, Kurlansky goes all out in proving the vitality of salt. He does not go off topic, even when the chapters of his book are as diverse as the difference between Ancient China and modern America. With this, he truly does defend and advance with the worlds that salt has created as a necessity to humans across the