Salt and the Columbian State

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 19^th and early 20^th century seems unusual, unless that town produces a valuable resource. This in and of itself would seem to help demonstrate salt’s value.