Inspired by a recent YouTube video, and after having found a similar post in here, I decided to raise the topic again, since I'm still not quite clear on what exactly we can say (or should be saying) about it.

It seems obvious that salt was important in past millennia. But just how it compares to other things (noteably gold) is not as obvious (to me). Was it actually used as pay? How did it figure in the economy, exactly? How much effort was needed to handle it (as an item of trade), and was it recognized by all as such a central item as it's often made out to be?

My goal is to avoid misconceptions!