Salt and the Columbian
State is an interesting variant on the commodity history, taking a
microhistory approach to examine the effects of a specific commodity trade on,
in essence, a single region of Columbia centered around La Salina. It
demonstrates the usefulness of using commodity records to get access to history
that might not otherwise be available. On the other hand, the book also has
some weaknesses. One that several people have already mentioned is the fact
that it is very much a lens book using the commodity trade to look at the
social interactions (one is almost tempted to say social damage) resulting from
the salt monopoly in Columbia.
Another weakness is the relative lack of focus on where the
salt is going. I think, judging from the text, that a significant proportion,
if not the majority, of the salt manufactured in La Salina was going to feed
Columbian demand. At least a portion of it was used for fattening cattle, for
instance. But I think the book could have been improved by spending 10-20 pages
on additional market information about salt consumption.
I think the most significant element of this book, in
displaying how the salt monopoly was a manifestation and source of strength for
the Columbian state is the fact that it can be written at all. La Salina is an extraordinarily
small community for a book like this to be written about, and the detail that
is possible is largely due to the existence of the salt monopoly and the
documentation and communication surrounding it. For a town of around a thousand
residents to have a significant state presence in the 19th and early
20th century seems unusual, unless that town produces a valuable
resource. This in and of itself would seem to help demonstrate salt’s value.