Keeping China a Maritime Power

. . . cod is a luxury good?!

Quite the f--king opposite, mate.

Actually, cod was a very valuable commodity in those days. While not in the same league as spices or silk, fish were good income generators. Remember, Europe is Christian and that means the only meat you can eat on Lent and, under most traditions at the time, Fridays and Holy Days are fish. Cod salted well which means that you could keep it around for months and thus a good commercial fish in the days before refrigerators or ice makers.

One thing we don't appreciate in these days of global supply lines and industrial farming is how valuable 'basic' food items like beef, fresh fruits, even basic grains that aren't locally grown were back in the past.
 
Actually, cod was a very valuable commodity in those days. While not in the same league as spices or silk, fish were good income generators. Remember, Europe is Christian and that means the only meat you can eat on Lent and, under most traditions at the time, Fridays and Holy Days are fish. Cod salted well which means that you could keep it around for months and thus a good commercial fish in the days before refrigerators or ice makers.

One thing we don't appreciate in these days of global supply lines and industrial farming is how valuable 'basic' food items like beef, fresh fruits, even basic grains that aren't locally grown were back in the past.

Good income generator, yes. Luxury, no.

It was a good income generator precisely because it was a very popular everyday (almost literally) thing.
 
Good income generator, yes. Luxury, no.

It was a good income generator precisely because it was a very popular everyday (almost literally) thing.
Like gravel makes more money than all other mining in Ontario combined, but definitely isn't a luxury item.
 
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