The “Salt in the Mediterranean: The case of Cretan Salt Pans (ca. 1570-1645)” project (Acronym SALMed) explores the production and trade of salt in the Mediterranean, focusing on the salt pans of Venetian Crete. It examined developments from the loss of Cyprus in 1571 during the Fourth Venetian-Ottoman War, up until the beginning of the Cretan War in 1645.

The aim of the study is to examine the changes that took place in the agricultural and commercial sectors of Venetian Crete during a period of economic readjustment and reorientation for the Republic of Venice. The second aspect of the research focuses on the organization of production and the distribution of salt. Emphasis will be placed on the types of salt pans (public and private), the owners (geographical and social origins), and the workers. From an economic perspective, the focus is on the price of salt, taxation, workers’ wages, and the salt distribution network. The selected historical period is of particular interest· it marks the last era of peace on the island before the outbreak of the Cretan War (1645-1669). It is also a transitional phase. The Ottoman conquest of Cyprus (1571), which resulted in the loss of the Cypriot wheat fields and salt pans, shifted the center of gravity to the last Venetian stronghold in the Eastern Mediterranean, Crete.

Objectives:
The project has two objectives:
1) Analysis of the historical changes in the agricultural sector and the commercial role of Venetian Crete during this transformative period. Agricultural policy in Crete changed as a consequence of the loss of Cypriot wheat fields and salt pans to the Ottomans. This shift included the eradication of vineyards to cultivate wheat and the enhancement of Cretan salt pans located in the western (Souda) and eastern (Elounda) parts of the island.
2) Study the salt production in Venetian Crete from the perspective of economic and
social history. The focus lies on the socio-geographic characteristics of various participants, including owners of salt pans, merchants, tax farmers, and workers.