The Story of Salt

It helped the world's first farmers tame cattle. It made international trade possible. It paid for the Great Wall of China, preserved the mummies of ancient Egypt, allowed the Romans to build an empire, and spurred Gandhi's movement to win India's independence from Britain. Without it, neither ham nor cheese would exist. Today we sprinkle salt on our food without a second thought, but for centuries, people went to great lengths to acquire this essential and flavorful rock. Full-color art. Time line.