Going into this book i thought i would suffer because it's about salt. However, i'm finding out that it is actually very interesting. But i wonder, why would someone want to write about salt?
I had no idea the Chinese invented so many different things. I also had no clue that they relied on salt so much. I think it's really neat that the Chinese canned food. However, it doesn't sound too appetising. Especially the 100-day old egg. I really don't think i'd eat that one. I would probably make my friend Bryce eat it instead. Also, soy sauce once has fermenting fish in it... gag me! I can only imagine what it smelled like.
I was in awe when i read the story about natural gas. I think that's pretty much the coolest thing ever. Who came up with the idea to light it? I know i wouldn't have. I would have ran away screaming "Demons!" It would deffinetly seem like the underworld. It's really smart of them to set pots of water by the fire, too. The bamboo piping is another good idea. I think the bamboo piping looks like a roller coaster. But back to my point, the Chinese are so clever.
Salt seems like it was gold to them. To make a monopoly of the salt industry is insane. Did you know Lick Hill in Bulter was named "Lick Hill" because the creek that ran through that area had a lot of salt in it? The salt would collect along the banks and animals would stop to lick the salt. Also, my dad and i were pumping the oil wells this summer and we had to drain the water off of the top of the oil tank. The water you drain from it is salt water. I just thought i'd share this with you. :)
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4 comments:
We seem to agree, which is a rarity ;-)
Anyway, this book is not what I expected. I, too, wonder why the author chose salt. And we also agree on the inventions of the Chinese. I actually can't wait to finish it. That's a first.
I actually did know thats why Lick Hill was called that!
My grandpa told me that.
I agree with you about the natural gas thing. Thats pretty crazy. Its prety amazing to me how well ancient civilizations could problem solve and stuff.
Bahahahaha. Bryce would eat it too. That's terrible.
Salt, salt, salt, salt, salt, ho hum, salty salt salt.
I'm not a fan of this book. But kudos to the Chinese (or Chineses according to Mille) for discovering gas like that. My Ramen Noodles would be lost without youuuuuuu!
Glad you found it interesting, but to some kids, they have a hard time figuring out "Why is he making us read about salt." Answer- for the history aspect of it. Mr. K is pretty good at connecing something so common to differnt periods of history.
We really won't study about China for some time. Maybe 3 weeks in April I'd say. But yes, the Chinese did invent a lot. It seems that salt to them was more valuable to pickle stuff or to tax it.
Fermenting soy sause... such a nice thought. I'd say I might pass on that one too.
Funny interp about Demons. You are a good writer. I like funny blogs that can deliver laughs and yet stay on subject. (a rare thing)
Salt was used as a type of money as shown in later chapters. Something so common that we now take for granted, and yet so valuable to them.
Lick Hill story is Soooo cool!!! I never knew that. See! Salt and western Pa. Buffalo New York was much the same thing. There used to be a giant salt lick there where woodland buffalo used to hang out.
Cool info about the oil well water too. Your Dad sounds like a wise man. :-) I'll bet he's full of stories about the local area?
Nice blog so far,
Mr. Farrell
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