Institution

Salt and iron monopoly

Also known as monopolies over salt and iron

The salt and iron monopoly was a state monopoly over the production and sale of salt and iron established under Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty in the second century BCE. It provided revenue for military campaigns against the Xiongnu and other state needs. The policy was debated at court, and accounts of the Han Dynasty present it as a major example of state intervention in the economy.

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Han DynastySocioeconomy

See also

Cite this entry

APA: The Epoch Institute. (2026). Salt and iron monopoly. In The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/salt-and-iron-monopoly
MLA: “Salt and iron monopoly.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/salt-and-iron-monopoly. Accessed .
Chicago: The Epoch Institute. “Salt and iron monopoly.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/salt-and-iron-monopoly.
Harvard: The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Salt and iron monopoly’, The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/salt-and-iron-monopoly (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random entry ↻