SALT...
Salt has played a prominent role in determining the power and location of the world's great cities. Salt created and destroyed empires. It has been important to humans for thousands of years, because all life has evolved to depend on it. Humans, like all life, need dietary salt to survive. Salt's ability to preserve food was a founding contributor to civilization. It helped to eliminate dependence on seasonal availability of food, and made it possible to ship some foods over long distances. However, salt was difficult to obtain, so it was a highly valued trade item, and was considered a form of currency by certain peoples.
As early as the 6th century, in the sub-Sahara, Moorish merchants routinely traded salt ounce for ounce for gold. In Abyssinia, slabs of rock salt, called 'amôlés, became coin of the realm. Each one was about ten inches long and two inches thick. Cakes of salt were also used as money in other areas of central Africa.
Cities, states and duchies along the salt roads exacted heavy duties and taxes for the salt passing through their territories. This practice even caused the formation of cities. Common salt was of such a high value that it caused mass population shifts and exodus, attracted invaders and caused wars.
---------- Now... think about our usage of OIL. The necessity of it for our cars and trucks and the Manufacturing of those vehicles... The Wealth and Power of Countries that mass-produce the Oil.
When the major vehicle corporations finally start competing against each other, producing Electric cars and trucks, that will make a major Shift on the value of Oil, manufacturing types of jobs, transportation engineering, the power and wealth of countries that are mainly supported by Oil. Look at the major change of TAXES... Major financial shifts will effect how many U.S. States and other countries will have to acquire their tax money. The value of stocks, pertaining to companies that produce automobile mechanical parts will shift.
Environmentally, the contamination of our atmosphere and the loud Sounds caused by gas/diesel powered vehicles will be reduced. Gas stations will begin to either disappear or shift over to "Quick Charging" businesses. Restaurants and Hotels/Motels will begin to add Electrical charging, parking slots, for their customers. The Electrical supplying companies will most likely get into the business of building "Auto Charging Stations", on our highways... The business of "Recycling" batteries and automobile parts will increase. Just like the major changes that our "Smartphones" have brought upon us, the Electric power vehicles will also effect us, because of the constant improvements, changes of education and career's, insurance companies, etc.
In our present time, our Generation that have Never experienced Life without the internet, or some type of computerized equipment, will find Their children going through the Same type of change, dealing with transportation in Electrically powered vehicles, compared to Physically driving a "Mechanically Powered" car/truck...
