Salt: The Essence of Life
Multidisciplinary Curriculum for Students
Unit 9:
History Salt Around the World and Through the Ages2-3 Class Periods
Overview
This module focuses on the history and geography of salt. Its objective is to give students an awareness of the importance of salt in the development of world civilizations.
Background
Salt, often said to be worth its weight in gold, has played a vital role in nearly every civilization since the beginning of time. It has served to preserve and improve the taste of food, as money, and as a spiritual icon. Some examples are listed below:
Ancient Greeks exchanged their slaves for salt
Romans paid their soldiers partly in salt
Chinese, in 2700 BC, wrote of 40 different kinds of salt
The French Revolution was sparked, in part, by a salt tax
Ancient Ethiopians used salt disks as a form of currency
In the United States, the Erie Canal was built largely to transport salt
In Slavic countries, salt is given to a bride and groom to symbolize health and happiness
Many of Napoleon's troops died during retreat from Moscow due to a lack of salt
The English increased their use of salt during Queen Elizabeth's reign when she required her subjects to eat fish on Wednesday and Friday
Leonardo da Vinci painted an overturned saltcellar in front of Judas in "The Last Supper."
Getting Ready
Time: 2-3 class periods
Materials
Per Student Group: Historical World Map, construction paper, and colored pencils
Instructions
Photocopy and distribute the Historical World Map to the students, and pass out colored pencils.
Activity
Using atlases, have students identify the following locations on the map provided: Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, China, France, Ethiopia, United States, Russia, Poland, Italy, England.
Shade in the boundaries of the empire or country (areas may overlap).
Research the historical impact that salt played in that civilization or country.
Within their group, have students write a one-page article on the role salt played in that region.
Assessment
Have each group make a 10 minute presentation to the class. They should develop 5 questions based on their presentation, which when pooled together with other groups' questions will make a class quiz.
Conclusion
As a class, create a Salt Time Line based on the research students conducted. Discuss the importance of salt in history. Display the Timeline and Maps in the classroom to show the importance of this mineral in our lives.