Salt was the "gold" standard
A pyramid of salt [at its dry natural angle of repose] measured
volumetrically by a Roman 'foot' square probably weighed approx
5500 troy grains [Fabretti] [Auzout] and [Congius]
which was about the weight of a Roman pound [libra centenaria=
100 Denarii]
Gold was estimated to be ten times the value by
weight of silver [100 years after the death of
Alexander]
Money [coin] did not have intrinsic value:
only its measure of representative weight
and its corrosion properties..
Some other "currencies" circulating at this time
in addition to salt, were feathers,
tortoise and cowrie shells and silk, and
"tallies"
SALT ARCHIVE http://salt.org.il
Investigating the influence of
SALT [NaCl] in civilisations
Prior to the Industrial Revolution
e-mail:mailto: [log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask] [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Mon August 23 1999 12:11
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Re chains etc
The most confusing unit I have so far come across is the French livre;
It was
used as a measurement of area of salterns in Brouage (near La Rochelle)
and
equalled 20 aires which were each 12-15 feet (pieds) square (what I foot
was
I can only guess)
Livres were also part of the monetary system (livres, sols, deniers) and
also
a unit of weight -pound
Jeremy
--
SALT MADE THE WORLD GO ROUND
http://salt.org.il
***Researching the History of salt ****
* and its influence on society up
* to the industrial revolution
* keywords: sea-levels, money, power
* craving, dehydration,
* sacrifice, monopoly
* BLOCH SALT ARCHIVE
http://salt.org.il
* E-mail [log in to unmask]
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