13. Spurring Technological Innovations
The demand for brine led to the development of salt pans and improved evaporation techniques, revolutionizing salt-making in places like Venice and the Bay of Bourgneuf. In Venice, salt production was centralized in the Chioggia saltworks, which became a major supplier of salt. The Venetians also established a monopoly over salt production and trade, controlling saltworks in various regions and exporting salt throughout Europe (pierrelaszlo.com). Similarly, the Bay of Bourgneuf in France became a significant center for salt production, with salt harvested from the marshes being stored in large wooden sheds called “salorges” to dry over the winter.
