Latest / The Hidden History of Bengal: Kingdoms, Empires, and Revolution — Fexingo History
The Salt Trade That Powered Bengal's Economy
Before petroleum or textiles, salt drove Bengal's economy and politics. This episode traces the salt trade from ancient extraction in the Sundarbans to Mughal monopolies, European competition, and the British East India Company's brutal tax regime. We explore how salt shaped the lives of laborers, financed empires, and sparked rebellions. Key figures include the Mughal emperor Akbar, who imposed the first salt tax in Bengal; the Portuguese and Dutch traders who smuggled salt along the coast; and the British policy that made salt one of the most heavily taxed commodities in history…
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